Rev. Donald J. Bouressa
Deceased: 2018-10-15
Diocese: PROVIDENCE
CSM Graduation Year: 1966
ICTE Fall: 1995
Rev. Donald J. Bouressa, 87, entered into eternal life on Monday, October 15, 2018. Born in Providence, he was predeceased by his father Allen F. Bouressa Sr., mother Theresa (Finnegan) Bouressa and brother Allen F. Bouressa Jr. He leaves his niece Donna Marie Bouressa and nephews James F. Bouressa, F. Allen Bouressa, and Donald A. Bouressa, and many great nieces and nephews.
Fr. Bouressa attended Sacred Heart School in East Providence, LaSalle Academy in Providence and Providence College in Providence, RI. He served with his brother in the US Army in Germany during the Korean Conflict prior to entering Seminary where he studied Philosophy at St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, MD and Theology at University Baltimore, Roland Park, MD. He was ordained on May 27, 1961 at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence, RI by the Most Reverend Russell J McVinney. Rev. Donald J Bouressa’s first parish assignment was Jesus Savior Church in Newport, RI. He then went to Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, Italy for his Doctorate in Cannon Law.
He faithfully served the Diocese of Providence with many titles as Promoter of Justice and Advocate for the Diocesan Tribunal, Assistant to the Vicar for the Office for Canonical Affairs, Defender of the Bond for the Diocesan Tribunal, Vice Chancellor, Vicar for the Office for Religious, Chancellor, and State Chaplin for the Knights of Columbus. Fr. Bouressa is probably best known for his time in South County as Director of Our Lady of Peace Retreat House in Narragansett from 1966 to 1973 and his assignment as pastor at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Point Judith from 1977 to 2001. As a retired priest, he served as chaplain in residence at DeLasalle Christian Brothers Center, Narragansett, RI until December, 2017. Fr. Bouressa loved sailing and fishing on Salt Pond in Narragansett where he kept a home for many years and shared his love of the ocean with his niece and nephews. He loved to ski, and travel with his closest friends, Fr. Bob Pfeiffer and Fr. Al Laubenthal. Fr. B. will be greatly missed by the people of Pt. Judith, the fishing community, St. Mary Star of the Sea parish community and everyone who ever met him and enjoyed his laid-back, funny, simple ways of humor, comfort and guidance. We wish you fair winds and calm seas, Fr. B.
A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, October 19, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 864 Pt. Judith Rd. Narragansett. Burial with military honors will be in the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter. Visiting hours Thursday, October 18, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield.
