Doris Poirier

Poirier, Doris F. (Gendreau), 97, died August 15, 2014, at home. She was the wife of the late Lionel W. Poirier. Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Albert and Hermina (Desaulniers) Gendreau. She was the loving mother of Lionel Poirier, Dolores Miko (Joseph), Gloria Nerney, Richard Poirier (Jeanne), Ronald Poirier (late Cheryl), Robert Poirier, Charles Poirier (Leanna), and the late Denise Poirier. She is survived by 70 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as by numerous nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Ernest Gendreau, Rita Corrente, Norma Lamothe, Louise Dwyer, and Lucille Manion.

The third of six children, Doris was born on Sonoma Court (formerly Rogers Ct.) to a close-knit French-Canadian family. She had many fond memories of her adventures there, generally involving her grandfather's family business, the New Style Laundry. As a young girl, she and her sister Rita delivered newspapers. Her family later moved to Manton Ave., where she assisted her mother Hermina in running an ice cream shop.

Doris was a deeply religious woman often leading her children in prayer and training them by word and deed in the values of Christianity. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Providence, where she belonged to the Enfants de Marie, of the choir, and of the Dames de Sainte Anne. Her grandfather Godfroid Gendreau had helped found the parish. She later became a daily communicant at the former St. Lawrence Church in Centredale closer to her home.

Having married at a young age, Doris never fulfilled her youthful ambition to become a teacher. However, she placed high value on education, and all of her children became teachers, instructing French or science from the primary to the graduate level. Widowed at a young age, she successfully guided her younger children through the turbulent Sixties. Her piety, thrift, and homemaking skills were essential to the success and well-being of her children.

Her funeral will be held Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. from the Robbins Funeral Home, 2251 Mineral Spring Ave., North Providence, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 901 Atwells Ave., Providence. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery. Calling hours are Tuesday, 4-9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Church.