Marie-Louise (Boursy) Bishop

Marie-Louise (Boursy) Bishop died July 4, 2009 in Hamilton, MT after a return battle with cancer. She came to the Bitteroot Valley in 1997 to be closer to some of her children following her husband's death and had been a parishioner at St. Francis in Hamilton since arriving in the Valley. She was born in Milwaukee, WI March 18, 1922 to Alfred and Marie (Baumstark) Boursy. The family moved to Worcester, MA when her father left his teaching position at Marquette University to accept a position at Holy Cross College in Worcester. Her early education was in Worcester with the Sisters of Notre Dame. She studied art at the Worcester Art Museum School where she developed her life-long passion for antiques, painting, and fine arts.
She married Richard Bernard Bishop, an organic chemist, June 21, 1941 and began a career as wife, mother, and companion. In the course of their 55 years of married life they shared a common commitment to their Catholic faith wherever they were in the world. Her husband was a research chemist and then later an international consultant in plastics and petrochemicals. As a consequence they frequently lived abroad for extended periods of time. Her focus was always on people and the ways she wanted to help them, no matter where she was living. She loved learning about their lives, their cultures, and their struggles. Those who knew her remember her as a sweet woman who knew how to tell a good story.
She was often involved in causes helping and supporting those less fortunate and generous to a wide variety of charitable organizations she had. Close to her heart was the Catholic Worker Movement in part because as a young girl she met Dorothy Day, a friend of her father's. Social justice causes, initiatives for world peace, and interfaith cooperation were important to her and she was particularly active in these areas before moving to Montana.
Survivors include her son Richard (Becky) of Stevensville, daughters Sister Marie-Louise Bishop, O.C.D., Reno, NV, Catherine Hanson (Gary) of Corvallis, and Faith L'Heureux (Marc) of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada who previously lived in Victor; two grandsons John and Daniel Tautenhan, four granddaughters: Sarah Conouyer-Bishop Comeau (Matt), Ann-Monique L'Heureux (Liam Nicholson), Elizabeth L'Heureux, and Catherine L'Heureux Willey (Nick), and seven great grandchildren, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
Memorial donations in her name can be made to S.A.F.E. House, P O Box 534 Hamilton, MT 59840.