SWANNANOA — Doris Edith Thibodeau lived a life centered on education and service to others.
A dedicated member of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa from 2010 until her passing in 2021 at the age of 89, the retired librarian attended Mass regularly and made a lasting commitment to the parish she loved.
“Doris was a parishioner who was quietly engaged at our parish,” said Claudia Graham, pastoral associate at St. Margaret Mary Parish. “She demonstrated her faith by regular Mass attendance on Sundays and holy days of obligation. Doris understood the importance of supporting the financial needs of the parish with consistent contributions to the offertory and especially by remembering St. Margaret Mary in her final wishes.”
After her passing, the parish received a bequest of more than $134,000.
“The pastor and the Parish Finance Council directed $70,000 to parish savings and the balance of $64,040.72 established the Doris Thibodeau Memorial Endowment Fund,” Graham explained. The funds are earmarked to support future campus building improvements.
Born on July 28, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York, Thibodeau’s family moved to Nova Scotia. She attended Mount Saint Vincent University, where she earned degrees in library science.
She began her library career in Santa Clara, California, before joining the American Red Cross, where she served in Korea and France in Recreation Services and later with Army Special Services as a civilian librarian. Upon returning to the United States, Thibodeau earned her master’s degree in library science at Western Reserve University, specializing in the history of medicine and rare books. She spent the final 20 years of her career as a librarian at Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore.
Retirement led Thibodeau to Asheville, where she embraced the area’s social, cultural and outdoor offerings. She enjoyed the opera, theater, reading, golf and active involvement in her church, which her endowment is now helping to grow.
“Endowments are the gift that keeps on giving,” Graham said. “Since receiving Doris’ gift, our parish has been able to utilize some of the endowment earnings to cover initial costs associated with our Bells of Hope capital campaign.” When complete, the $4.5 million capital campaign will enable the parish to more than double seating capacity in the 90-year-old church and usher in other needed improvements.
“Across our diocese there are people like Doris who are leading lives of quiet impact,” said Jim Kelley, the diocese’s development director. “While they may not get involved in activities in their churches beyond going to Mass, their love for their parishes continues, and the difference they make in perpetuity with an endowment can be substantial.”
— Courtney McLaughlin
Fund an endowment
Interested in setting up – or adding to – an endowment to benefit your parish or Catholic school? You can establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of real estate, life insurance, cash or securities.
For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.