Jacqueline L. (Lessard) Finn

WORCESTER – Dr. Jacqueline L. (Lessard) Finn Ed.D., 94, of Worcester, died April 5, 2022, at her home. 

Her husband of 56 years, Philip A. Finn, died in 2012.  She is survived by five children: Michele Mills and her husband Robert of Beverly Hills, MI, Christine Knoll-Finn and her wife MJ of Short Hills, NJ, Stephen Finn and his wife Margaret of Arlington, VA, Peter Finn and his wife Carmen of Grafton, and Paul Finn of  Wellfleet; a son-in-law, Paul V. Storey of Chelmsford; sixteen grandchildren, Henry and William Knoll-Finn, Samantha, Peter, Shannon and Brian Brown, and Patrick and Vanessa Storey, Edward and Allie Popovici, Clay, Alyssa and Jared Vest, Emily and Tommy Reller and Colleen Finn, Kevin, Michael, Charlie, and Caroline Finn; three great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her daughter, Catherine Finn Storey, and her sister, Madeleine Bouchard, and her brother-in-law, Charles Bouchard of Falmouth.  She was born in Worcester, daughter of Joseph J. and Antoinette (Sancoucy) Lessard.  She graduated from Presentation of Mary Academy, Hudson, NH, in 1945, and Rivier College, Nashua, NH, in 1949.  In both cases, she was class salutatorian. 

She started teaching at Thorndike Road School in 1949 and obtained an M.Ed. from Worcester State College in 1951.  After obtaining her M.Ed. she participated in the Russian Studies program at Assumption College without obtaining a degree.  From 1953 to 1956, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency as an analyst.  She married in 1955 and lived with her growing family in Germany and Italy from 1958 to 1964 where she obtained conversational proficiency in German and fluency in Italian. 

After returning to Worcester in 1964, she resumed teaching at Winslow Street School and Nelson Place School.  From 1977 to 1978, she taught and served as director for the Providing Education for Able Kids (PEAK) program.  In 1985, she received her Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  Subsequently, she served as an adjunct professor in graduate studies in education at Fitchburg State College, presented at professional conferences in reading and language arts, and published in professional journals. 

In retirement, she enjoyed winters in Naples, Florida, and summers in her garden.  She researched the history of the migration of the people of Quebec to central Massachusetts and in 2018 published From Habitants to Immigrants: the Sansoucys, the Harpins, and the Potvins. 

She lived life with tremendous purpose and passion, pursuing interests as broad as Ancient Egyptian history, Impressionist painting, and the Civil War and its aftermath. She grabbed hold of every new interest and launched.  But, children and family were the center of her life.  She gave every child in her sphere the gift of literacy.  She showered her grandkids with books and gave her family and colleagues a depth of appreciation for the complexity and joys of children’s literature.   

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 23rd at 10 am at St. John’s Catholic Church, 44 Temple St, Worcester. The family would appreciate masks being worn while indoors. There are no calling hours. Interment will be private. There will be an open house after the Mass at the family home until 5pm.  Rice Funeral Home, 300 Park Ave, is assisting the family with arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Jacqueline may be made to The Catherine Finn Storey Memorial Scholarship at Moore College of Art, Development Dept., 20th & The Parkway, Phil., PA 19103, or moore.edu.