Bernadette Doucette was born in the winter of 1891 in Michigan. Her parents, August and Angeline (Gautheir) Doucette, were both French-Canadian immigrants. She grew up speaking some French in their large family, although required some tutoring prior to her acceptance in the US Army. She had at least 11 siblings.
The family had been in Michigan for several years before returning to Canada (Edmonton) in about 1910. There, Bernadette worked for the Alberta Government Telephone system, starting in 1914. And it was in Canada that she applied to join the US Signal Corps. She was readily accepted and became part of the Sixth Group, sailing in September of 1918. Bernadette stayed in France, long after the Armistice. She finally returned to the United States in August of 1919.
Bernadette returned to Edmonton as a supervisor. She made Chief Operator in 1944 and continued in that capacity until her retirement in 1951. She continued to live in Edmonton, making her home first at St. Anthony’s church and later in St. Joseph’s convent. Although she lived in these religious communities, there’s no evidence that Bernadette ever took orders herself. She never married.
Bernadette Doucette died in October of 1980. She is buried near her mother in St. Anthony Cemetery in Edmonton, Alberta.
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