Sister Jeannine Dargis

“For where your treasure is, there will be your heart .” (Mt. 6 : 21)

November 26, 2017, Sister Jeannine Dargis,
in religion Marie-Lucie-de-l’Immaculée  
went home to God. 

She was 85 years old and had been professed for 61 years. 

Born in St-Louis-de-France, Quebec, she was the 7th of the 13 children 
of Ernest Dargis and Aldéa Buissières.

Jeannine grew up in a remarkably united family where piety and prayer ruled: "Family prayer - both morning and evening, rosary recited kneeling in the kitchen, way of the cross in the parents' room or at church, Mass every morning and reciting the Angelus before dinner.”

She attended the local school until Grade 4 and then, for a few years, attended a school directed by the Congregation of the Filles-de-Jésus. When she was 15 years old, Jeannine wanted to enter the community but she stayed at home to help her mother: five brothers were born after her! She also worked in a factory in Trois-Rivières for three or four years. At the age of 21, she entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, where her two older sisters had preceded her.

At the ceremony of the taking of the habit, Jeannine received the name Sister Lucie-de-l'Immaculée. She very quickly felt at home within the community. During the early years of her religious life, Sister Lucie served in the refectory at the Motherhouse. Following that, she was the cook for more than 25 years in various houses among which were Maskinongé, Beloeil, St-Louis-de-Gonzague, St-Chrysostome and Ste-Martine.

When she was about 45, Sister Jeannine began focusing on pastoral care for the sick and elderly Sisters. At the Motherhouse, she was assigned to maintaining the kitchenette in the infirmary and to accompanying patients to medical appointments, which she did until the house closed in 2005. She was then appointed to Résidence Marie-Rose-Durocher where she provided community services, while also volunteering outside the community. Three years later, she was welcomed into Maison Jésus-Marie where her two older sisters would later join her. As her strength weakened, she dedicated herself to a ministry of prayer. 

Sister Jeannine’s favorite pastime was practicing the piano thanks to a portable keyboard which her brother Prudent had loaned to her. Her wish was to be able to accompany the singing of the sick Sisters whom she visited. Sister Jeannine also loved reading spiritual biographies, which nurtured her prayer life.

Sister Jeannine is now with the One in whom she had such great hope.