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- Rev. Joseph C. Bessette
(Special Dispatch to The Herald)
PAWTUCKET, R.I., April 16 ? The Rev. Joseph C. Bessette, pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Consolation, who was to have been invested with the dignity of monsignor, Sunday, by the Rt. Rev. William A. Hickey, Bishop of the Providence diocese, died suddenly in the rectory tonight. He was one of the best known priests in Rhode Island. His latest work in building a new church had so sapped his strength that a cold, to which he gave little heed, developed into pneumonia and resulted in death after four days? illness.
Fr. Bessette was born in the little Canadian village of Saint Gregory of Iberville, Dec. 11, 1851. After attending school there, he entered Marieville College and was graduated with the class of 1878. He studied theology at the Grand Seminary, Montreal, and after completing his course in 1882, went to Rome, studied at the Grand Seminary of the Holy City, and in 1885 was awarded degrees as doctor of philosophy and of canon laws and appointed pastor of St. Tridentrense Church, Rome. Two years later he came to this country and was appointed vicar of St. Michael?s Church, Fall River, and of the Sacred Heart Church, New Bedford. He was then made permanent rector of Our Lady of Consolation Church, Pawtucket, by Bishop Harkins.
Since becoming pastor of this church, he had built a new edifice, finished in 1896; a rectory, completed three years later, and a parochial school, finished in 1905, while only a few weeks ago was completed the finest Catholic church in Rhode Island, in which he was to have received the high honors denied him by death.
Citizens of all faiths in Pawtucket were shocked by Fr. Bessette?s sudden death and clergyman of all denominations called at the rectory tonight. Funeral arrangements have not been made.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1851 - 
, d. 18 Sep 1885, Sainte-Angele-de-Monnoir, Quebec, Canada