Madeleine C. Sanchez

Madeleine (Lessard) Sanchez, 91, of 299 Merrimack Street, died January 30, 2000, at Hanover Hill Heath Care Center after a short illness. She was born in Manchester on July 26, 1908, the daughter of a prominent French family, Wilfred J. And Adeline (Turcotte) Lessard. Her father was a well known lawyer and secretary to Bishop Guertin, Bishop of Manchester. She was educated at Villa Augustina and was the first woman graduate from St. Anselm College. She was a Professor of Languages and taught at Mount St. Mary College for many years. During her graduate years she added to her knowledge of French, becoming fluent in Spanish, German, Italian and Greek. She had a working knowledge of Arobic and Hebrew. She became a foreign language teacher at Concord High School for twenty years. Regugees to Manchester found her open home to their delight. There they would find food, talk, music and encouragement. Mrs. Sanchez had the facility of making her students feel that all the possibilities the world had to offer were open to all of them. Late in her life, she decided she wanted to fly. She joined the Civil Air Patrol and received her wings. Family members include her husband of 70 years, Efrain G. Sanchez of Manchester, her brother Wilfred J. Lessard of Quincy, Ma., several nieces, nephews, cousins, and her special friend Lorraine Lemay, who contributed to the biography of Mrs. Sanchez's. SERVICES: Relatives and friends may attend a committal service for Mrs. Sanchez on Thursday afternoon at 1 o'clock in St. Augustin Cemetery Chapel, South Beech Street, Manchester, NH. The Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, corner of Union, is in charge of arrangements