Sister Lucie Lambert

"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23, 46)
March 14, 2017, Sister Lucie Lambert,
in religion Marie-Imelda-du-St-Sacrement,
went home to God. 

She was 95 years old and had been professed for 74 years. 

Born in Maskinongé, Quebec, she was the 2nd of the 2 children 
of Donat Lambert and Imelda Gravel.  

When Lucie was born, her father had already died following a short illness and her mother, a young widow, had returned home to live with her parents. It was in their home that Lucie grew up with her older brother. Within the family prayer rhythm, the first seeds of her vocation were taking root. When she was 15 years, old her mother remarried and the family was blessed with four other children, the last two born after Lucie had entered religious life.

Lucie first attended the local school, and from 4th grade on she was a boarder at the convent in Maskinongé, which was directed by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. The atmosphere of the convent strengthened her decision to become a Sister. After obtaining her high school leaving certificate, she stayed at home for two years to help her mother, and when she was 19 years old she entered the SNJM novitiate.

"Leaving my parents, a new little sister and a little one-year old brother made the separation painful."  Sister Imelda-du-St-Sacrement was fervent, loved to learn, but was in fragile health. She also loved children, and taught first or second grade in the schools of Montréal-Est, Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours and Marie-Rose de St-Sauveur-des-Monts which benefitted from her dedication for 3, 8 and 12 years respectively.

When she was 51, after spending a year in the infirmary, Sister Lucie left teaching to do a variety of community services: helping in the refectory and the library, maintaining the church linens, helping out with cooking, housekeeping, liturgy planning, as well as volunteering in the parish sacristy. For ten years, her main place of residence was at l'Épiphanie.

"In every house where I lived, I was part of the choir. To sing is to pray twice, so I united my voice with those of the angels and saints to celebrate the Lord’s praises.” 

Sister Lucie then moved to Résidence Sainte-Émélie to lend her hand to the support services and to the ministry of prayer. She stayed there for 28 years before being welcomed into the infirmary in Longueuil for the last 4 years of her life.

A woman of prayer, elegance, and gratitude, Sister Lucie can now give thanks to the heavenly Father, in eternal peace and never-ending joy.