Rev. Richard T. Ouellette MM

THE CASEY FAMILY IS HONORED TO BE CARING FOR AND ASSISTING THE MARYKNOLL FATHERS, ALL COUNTY FUNERAL SERVICES AND THE OUELLETTE FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF THEIR BELOVED UNCLE , THE REV. RICHARD T. OUELLETTE

Maryknoll Missionary

MARYKNOLL, NY - Rev Richard T. Ouellette MM age 88, passed away peacefully at the Assisted Living Unit at the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Center in Maryknoll, NY.

Rev Ouellette was born April 8, 1931 in Waterbury CT, the son of the late Rosario "Timmy" and Antoinette (Heroux) Ouellette. He was a graduate of Sacred Heart Grammar and High School and after one year at Fordham University, he joined the U.S. Navy as the Korean Conflict had just erupted. Following his years in service, in 1955 he was accepted at Maryknoll to study for the priesthood and was ordained a Maryknoll Missionary priest on June 8, 1963. He began his mission work in South America; Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. In 1985 Rev. Ouellette served as the Executive Secretary for the Maryknoll General Council in New York but his heart remained in the missions so in 1987 he was asked to open a new mission in Bangladesh and became Vice Rector of St Paul's Seminary in Dhaka. He returned to the U.S. for health reasons in 1994 where he did Mission Development work on the West Coast. In 1997, Rev Ouellette became the supervisor of the Senior Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers facility in Los Altos, CA. He retired in 2002 but continued to serve as Chaplain for the Maryknoll Sisters in Monrovia CA. Since 2010 Rev Ouellette has enjoyed his retirement, continuing his priestly duties. Rev Ouellette was committed to being a missionary disciple. He was especially proud of the work he did in Bangladesh where he helped build and staff a seminary to train local men to become priests and brothers. There he worked without electricity and the things we all take for granted and was truly doing God's work. During his years in mission he would return home to Waterbury to visit with family and friends and assisted in local parishes including St. Cecilia's, Sacred Heart his home parish, SS Peter & Paul and St. Francis Xavier. Although his love of the missions took him far and wide, he never forgot his home, Waterbury, CT.

Left to cherish his memory and honor his love and legacy besides his brother priests, brothers and sisters of Maryknoll are his sister, Rachel Mitchell of New Smyrna GA his sister in law Carolyn Ouellette of Santa Cruz, CA and his many local nieces, nephews and cousins in Waterbury. He was predeceased by his sisters, Sr. Blanche Ouellette RSM, Dorothy Casey, Claire DeBellis, and Gertrude Pryor and his brother, Thomas Ouellette.

Funeral services for Rev. Ouellette will be held on Friday, February 28, 2020 when a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Queen of Apostles Chapel at the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Center 55 Ryder Rd. Maryknoll, NY 10545. His grand- nephew, Rev Michael Casey will be the main celebrant with many of Rev. Ouellette's brother Maryknoll priests as co-celebrants. Relatives and friends may visit with Rev. Ouellette's family on Friday morning in the Lady Chapel at Maryknoll from 9:30 till 10:45 am. Burial will follow on the grounds of the Seminary. A local Memorial Mass for Rev. Ouellette will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 12:15 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1755 Stanley St New Britain CT. In lieu of flowers and to honor Rev. Ouellette's work, donations to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers 55 Ryder Rd (P.O. Box 302) Maryknoll, NY 10545 are very much appreciated. Casey's Eastside Memorial Funeral Home, 1987 E. Main St. Waterbury, CT 06705 has been honored to assist in the services. Memories last only if you share them, so you are encouraged to leave a condolence, words of comfort or personal memory with the Ouellette family on Father Richard's tribute page at www.eastsidememorial.com .