Carmella “Sis” Guerin

New London — Carmella Sousa Guerin, “Sis,” was born on April 19, 1925, and she returned to the Lord on Oct. 8, 2017. She was born to Anthony and Mary (Garvey) Sousa and she lived her entire life in New London. She attended New London schools for her early education graduating from Chapman Technical School in 1943. She went on to Boston University and graduated from Sargent College of Boston University in 1947, with B.S. in physical education. At BU Carmella was a swimmer who earned All-New England swimming honors.

Carmella began her teaching career in White Plains, N.Y., and then moved back to New London to begin teaching at St. Bernard High School for Girls in 1956. Carmella was hired by the Diocese of Norwich to teach at St. Bernard and she was the first lay teacher to be hired at the school.

At St. Bernard, Carmella holds a number of firsts. She was the school’s first physical education instructor, home economics instructor, biology instructor, and the school’s first driver’s education instructor. She was the first physical education department head, the school’s first athletic director and the school’s first coach. Carmella served on the school’s Consultation Board, was a principal’s advisor, was a member of the Peer Leadership Panel, a National Honor Society advisor, and she served as a member of the Student Handbook Faculty Review Committee.

Besides being active in St. Bernard’s athletics, Carmella served as a chaperone for St. Bernard’s European and China trips, and she also served as the Chair of the St. Bernard Archives.

Carmella, fondly known to hundreds of students at St. B’s as “Mrs. G,” coached cheering, volleyball, badminton, basketball, softball, swimming, tennis, bowling, gymnastics and track during her tenure at St. Bernard. She served as the Chair of the Cheerleading Committee of the National Association of Girls and Women Sports in Connecticut from 1958 to 1972, and she served as president of the New England Cheerleaders Association. She coached the championship girls’ basketball team in the New London City League in 1968-1969, and she coached the St. Bernard girls’ track team to a runner-up position in the state Class M division in 1976. She became the first female coach to win a State Championship in track in 1977. She coached the National Junior Olympics first-place winner in the javelin in 1977, and she also coached the St. Bernard varsity cheerleaders to first-place rankings in the State of Connecticut Open Competition in 1967 and in 1968. She was an early pioneer and avid supporter of Title IX.

At St. Bernard, Carmella received the Justice and Peace Award from the Diocese of Norwich in 1996, and she also was the first female coach to receive the St. Bernard Service Medal. She was a recipient of the Yearbook dedication and has a bronze plaque erected outside the gymnasium of St. Bernard in Uncasville in recognition of her 34 years of service to the school. Carmella was active in community affairs serving as president of the New London Area Food Coalition from 1993 to 1997. She was an active member of the New London Food Pantry from 1990 until 2015. She served on the Chapman Tech School Reunion Committee from 1948 through 1993, and she was a member of Net Fast II Human Service Network. Carmella received the Twin “S” Award from Boston University’s Sargent College Alumni Association, which recognizes outstanding achievements of its graduates who promote the ideals of Sargent College. She was inducted into the St. Bernard High School Athletic Hall of Fame, as well as the New London Athletic Hall of Fame, of which she was very proud. Carmella was an avid bowler, bowling every Monday with her dear friends right up until December 2016.

Carmella was predeceased by both of her parents, her husband, Donald (Luke), and her brother, Clifford (Buddy) Sousa. She is survived by her sister, Christina Deane of Groton, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by her children, her daughter, Maureen Lamoureux and her husband, Arthur; her son, Gary of Williamstown, Mass. and his wife, Karen; her grandchildren, Nicole Busby and her husband, Mark, Artie Lamoureux and his wife, Deirdre, Allison Springman and her husband, Daryl, and Ashley Guerin. Carmella has three great-grandchildren, Liam, Mollie, and Zoe. She was also a special “Nanna” to Alanna Dillon Suda. All her relatives who survive her knew her as “The Queen.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics at 1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314 or online at www. nafcclinics.org, or St. Bernard School, 1593 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Uncasville, CT 06382 or online at www. saintbernardschool.org.

The family will receive callers from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13, at the Thomas L. Neilan Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, at St. Mary’s Church, with interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery immediately following.

The Thomas L. Neilan Funeral home in New London is in charge of all funeral arrangements.