Sister Mary Roland, R.S.M.

Born Leola Marie Bienvenu on December 11, 1930, to the late Leola Durand Bienvenu and C.T. Bienvenu, Sister Mary Roland, R.S.M. grew up in St. Martinville. An older sister, Ethel Mae, died in infancy, so Lolie was the only surviving daughter among four brothers – C. Thomas Bienvenu Sr., Roland G. Bienvenu Sr., Leonard P. Bienvenu Sr. (all deceased), and Millard Bienvenu. She graduated from Our Lady of Mercy High School and entered the Sisters of Mercy as a novice on September 8, 1948 at age 18. Sister Mary Roland received a Master’s degree in administration and supervision, and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Loyola University in New Orleans.
Sister Mary Roland was a Sister of Mercy for 66 years, and devoted her entire adult life to the Catholic Church. She began her 34-year teaching career at Holy Name School in New Orleans in 1951, and also taught in elementary and secondary schools in Kenner and Metairie. Sister Mary Roland served 21 years as principal at schools such as Our Lady of Mercy in St. Martinville and St. Joseph in Jeanerette as well as schools in New Orleans.
Ready for a change and after a year’s sabbatical exploring health care ministries, she assumed the role of assistant administrator at Harbor View Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1986. Her next position was at St. Joseph’s Regional Health Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she spent 14 years in positions such as Vice-President for Mission Effectiveness and Employee Relations Coordinator. In 1994, Sister Mary Roland received the “Volunteer Woman of the Year Award” from the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce for her work with organizations such as United Way, Potter’s Clay, and United Blood Services. In addition, she was a member of the Board of Directors of the Sisters of Mercy Health System from 1986 to 1995. She celebrated her 50th anniversary as a Sister of Mercy in 1998 with a gathering of family and friends.
Retired in 2004, Sister Mary Roland moved to St. Catherine’s Residence in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2006 and died peacefully there at the age of 83 at 5:30 a.m. on November 5, 2014.
She is survived by her brother, Dr. Millard Bienvenu and his wife Rowena Flynn Bienvenu of Natchitoches; sister-in-law Rose Marie Lesher (Leonard) Bienvenu of Catonsville, Maryland; eight nieces, seven nephews and numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, and godchildren.
Sister Mary Roland was pre-deceased by one nephew, John B. Bienvenu of St. Martinville.
She will be remembered with great fondness by the many people to whom she sent birthday and anniversary cards, by those with whom she maintained correspondence, and by those for whom she prayed. “Aunt Lolie” kept family members informed about each other’s news and attended many annual Durand Family Reunions.
All services occurred in St. Martinville. Visitation was at the Pellerin Funeral Home on Saturday, November 8, from 8 a.m. until time of services. Reverend Kenneth Bienvenu celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Martin of Tours Church.
Interment occurred immediately after Mass at St. Michael Cemetery.
To view online obituary and sign guestbook, go to pellerinfuneralhome.com.