Obituary: Reverend Louis D. Bourgeois,"Father B." Pastor of St. Paul in Hamilton

Obituary from O’Donnell Funeral Home.

Reverend Louis D. Bourgeois, 82 of Salem, entered into heaven, February 9th, 2015 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington.

Born in Lynn, he was the son of the late Achille and Marie (Berube) Bourgeois. He was raised and educated in Lynn and was a graduate of the former St. Jean the Baptiste grammar and high school of Lynn. He entered Cardinal O’Connell Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston February 2nd, 1959.

His early assignments were to St. Joseph’s Church in Wakefield, Our Lady of the Comforter of the Afflicted in Waltham and St. Susanna Catholic Church in Dedham. In 1981 he was appointed pastor of Ste. Anne’s Church in Salem. He would remain as Pastor for 12 years and he guided the church through great growth and expansion, having overseen the rebuilding of the Sanctuary following a total destruction by fire. He would move on to the Church of St. Paul in Hamilton in 1993 as Pastor, would celebrate 50 years as a priest in 2009 and would remain until the time of his retirement in 2010. In his retirement years he was a priest–in-residence at St. James Church in Salem and served the Salem Catholic Collaborative and St. Richard Parish in Danvers. During his years in Hamilton he was the designated Town Police Chaplin, a role he relished. He was also the former Fire Chaplin of the Town of Wakefield Fire Department in his early years as a priest.

A true shepherd of the word of God, Father B., as he was affectionately known, had an enormous impact on people through his genuine and down to earth persona and the true ability to comfort those in need. This allowed him to connect with young and old alike and also allowed him to connect the word of the Lord to all. His hospital ministry, visiting the elderly, sitting with dialysis patients during treatments and celebrating Mass for the Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur in Ipswich was among the many ways he served others; this brought him great joy. He consistently incorporated three of the most important lessons learned as a seminarian in his daily life, “be kind, be kind, be kind” and will be remembered for his most often uttered phrases “We are Family” and “God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good”.

He had a deep passion for music, gardening, bird watching, and Boston sport teams especially the Red Sox. His love for family and friends was true and vast. He relished spending time with his siblings, nieces, nephews and dear friends. They brought great joy to his life. He will be missed dearly.

Father B’s legacy of kindness, laughter and holiness will stay with those of whom he shepherded forever.

Father B is survived by his brother Deacon Joseph Bourgeois, SSS of St. Baylon Pascal Church, Cleveland, Ohio, sisters Anne Marie McCarthy and her husband Paul of Milton, and Frances Murray of Peabody, his nieces Marie Murray of Charlestown, Cecile McCarthy of Beverly, Eileen Malala of Peabody and Michelle Horgan of Hamilton and ten great nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late CecileBourgeois, uncle of the late Paul Murray and brother-in-law of the late Bryce Murray.

ARRANGEMENTS: His funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Richard Church, 88 Forest St. , Danvers, Saturday, Feb 14th at 11 A.M. Relatives and friends invited. Burial in St. Jean’s Cemetery, Lynn. Reverend Bourgeois will lie in state at St. Richards Church, Forest St., Danvers, Friday, Feb. 13th from 4 to 8 P.M. All are welcome to pay respects at that time. Assisting the family with the arrangements is The O’Donnell Funeral Home 46 Washington Sq., (at Salem Common) Salem. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the The Clergy Health and Retirement Trust, 66 Brooks Dr., Braintree, MA 02184. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com