WINOOSKI — Sister Isoline Duclos, RSM, (Sr. Mary Leonard), 90, of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, died at Our Lady of Providence Residence, Winooski, Vt., on Dec. 1, 2021. She was a Sister of Mercy for 72 years.

Sr. Isoline was born in Weybridge, Vt., on Oct. 10, 1931, the daughter of Clarabel (Lathrop) and George Duclos. She received her early education in Middlebury and graduated from Mount Saint Mary Academy in Burlington. She received her B.S. degree in Education from Trinity College, Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Columbia University, and a MAT in Religious Education from Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt.

Sr. Isoline entered the Sisters of Mercy on Aug. 15, 1949, and professed her vows on Aug. 18, 1952. She took as her motto “I have one soul to serve the Lord with my love.”

Sr. Isoline taught first grade at Saint Mary’s School in Middlebury, Cathedral Grammar School, Saint Mary’s, and Mater Christi School in Burlington. She taught Religious Education in parishes throughout the Diocese of Burlington.

Sister Isoline was Director of Mercy Associates and was involved in special religious education (SPRED) at Trinity College. For many years she served in parish ministry at St. Anthony in White River, Saint Joseph in Burlington and Saint Ambrose in Bristol. Serving with a joyful, bubbly hello, she visited the sick, elderly and homebound. While praying with them and bringing them communion she listened to them as they shared their struggles and concerns. She sensed their needs and found ways to respond to them. She was extensively involved in each parish and local community where she was ministering. Hospitality was a hallmark of her service.

For decades she was an enthusiastic participant in COTS WALK and CROP WALK fundraisers.

She was a connoisseur of dark chocolate, which she readily shared.

She is survived by her brother Thomas (Lisa) Duclos, sisters Mary (Burgess) Field, Jane (Wayne) Zimmerman, and by her sisters in religion, the Sisters of Mercy. She was predeceased by her parents Clarabel and George Duclos, her brothers Robert and George and sister Helen deCourval.

The Sisters of Mercy are very grateful to Director of Nursing, Barbara Liberty, and her staff at Our Lady of Providence Residence and to University of Vermont Medical Center Hospice nurse, Nancy Carlson, for their exceptional care of Sister Isoline.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Dec. 9, at 12:05 p.m., at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Burlington, Vt. Visiting hours will be prior to the funeral from 11 a.m.-noon. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy in support of their ministerial works. These may be sent to Sisters of Mercy – ATTN: Sr. Laura Della Santa, 356 Mountain View Road, Suite 101, Colchester, VT 05446. Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral Home South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington, VT.◊