"Reverend Raymond Herve Potvin, passed away March 18, 2011 at Corsica Hills Nursing Home in Maryland. Born in 1924 in Southbridge, MA, he was the son of Cleophas and Eva Potvin, lifelong residents of Three Rivers and communicants of St. Ann Parish. Raymond graduated from Assumption College in Worcester and earned a theology degree from the Grande Seminaire in Montreal, Canada. In 1948 he was ordained at Saint Michael's Cathedral, Springfield and assigned to Mount Carmel, Ware and then Saint Thomas Aquinas, Springfield until 1953. He continued his education at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and Louvain University, Belgium. He was granted his Ph D. from CUA Department of Sociology in 1956 and began his tenure there as professor of sociology in 1963. In 1965 Rev. Potvin was awarded a Visiting Fellowship at Princeton University and in 1967 assumed the Chairmanship of the Department of Sociology at CUA where he retired and became Professor Emeritus in 1994. Throughout his academic career, Rev. Potvin wrote numerous books and monographs and lectured on such topics as the changing roles of women, family values, marriage, and the seminary and the priesthood. He also served on many national educational and research committees and boards. Some of his prestigious awards and honors include: Outstanding Educator of America 1972, Emory Bogardus Award for Research 1981, Benemerenti Medal awarded by John Paul II in 1984, Doctor of Humane Letters, Assumption College 1993. Predeceased by his sister, Estelle Alderman, he leaves two sisters, Lorraine Dennis, Ft. Myers, FL and Claire Rebello, Three Rivers, MA. and numerous nieces and nephews. A Vigil Service for Rev. Potvin will be held at Divine Mercy Parish (formerly Sts. Peter and Paul), Three Rivers on Friday, April 1 between 5-8 p.m. The liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 2 at 10:00 a.m. followed by internment at St. Anne's Cemetery. Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements. Please visit www.beersandstory.com to sign the online guestbook and express condolences. "