Sister Laurence Hogue

“Like a deer longs for running streams, so my soul longs for you, my God.”  Ps 42:2

August 30, 2010, Sister Laurence Hogue
in religion, M-Clotilde-Emma
went home to God.

She was 94 years old and had been professed for 72 years.
Born in St-Lin-des-Laurentides, she was the eldest of 13 children
of Oscar Hogue and Clotilde Beauchamp.

Laurence wrote that in her family, she “was immersed in an SNJM atmosphere.” - an atmosphere of vocations to the religious life.  Her father’s four sisters entered our Congregation; and her aunt on her mother’s side of the family had entered the Sisters of Providence.  Three of her brothers entered the “Clairs-Saint-Viateur”; and her youngest sister Yvette also became an SNJM.  Her religious name was Sister Joseph-Oscar.  At the age of 20, Laurence entered our Congregation.  It did not seem to have been a difficult decision, but she must have experienced some tension between her determination to live in the Community and that of having to leave her mother, for whom she had been her “right arm” .

For 40 years, she competently taught children from Grade 3 through 7.  Among her many extracurricular tasks: she was assistant of the Eucharistic Crusaders, choir director, helped out with liturgy planning, parish activities…at the age of 61, she looked after her ailing mother for the next several years, overseeing the household duties, being a support to her nephews and nieces, taking care of the paternal home, all the while working as the parish secretary. 

At the age of 67, despite her declining health, she began her second career as assistant librarian, a task she carried out with enthusiasm and devotion for 23 years!  She spent the last 4 years of her life at Maison Jésus-Marie where the Lord finally came to take his faithful servant home with Him!

Sister Laurence wrote, “The gift of service and the desire and ability to deepen my spiritual life, gave me the greatest happiness throughout my religious life.”; deception? “I frequently had the impression that it was not I, alone, that attained my goals.” difficulties? “For many years, I felt very far from the Lord, but now I realize just how patient and generous He was in His mercy…I am confidently moving toward Him who is very slowly coming to meet me.”