Sister Gabrielle Lanteigne

“Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge
of many things; enter into the joy of your Master.” Mt. 25, 21

September 28, 2010, Sister Gabrielle Lanteigne,
in religion M.-Adélard-de-Jésus,
went home to God.
She was 101 years old and had been professed for 78 years.

Born in Montreal, she was the 8th of 10 children
of Adélard Lanteigne and Romaine Doiron.

Gabrielle grew up in a family that was hardworking and thrifty. She was intelligent, dynamic and cheerful; and she was often scolded, punished. Two of her older siblings had already left home, one to enter the Jesuits and the other to enter the Grey Nuns. She completed all of her studies with the SNJM’s: Marie-Immaculée School, Pensionnat Mont-Royal, École normale de Valleyfield.

Surprise: Instead of going into teaching, after taking commercial courses, she found work in a Stock Exchange Office where she earned a good salary with bonuses and promotions and also had a good circle of friends around her. However, people saw her as a nun..., but she herself did not see it: “I was not good enough!“  She finally agreed to make a closed retreat: No doubt, she was called to a religious vocation!

According to a friend, when Gabrielle’s mother became sick, she strongly said, “I am not leaving!” and so continued to work.... she had no inclination to enter religious life, no significant attraction. But, after 3½ years of working for a salary, she decided to take the step towards entering the SNJM’s.  She was 21 years old.

After her postulate, she was sent out to teach. After making her profession, Sister Adélard-de-Jésus taught for 29 years, 25 of which were commercial courses where she was really in her element. She was also in charge of the J.E.C.  At 53, Sister Gabrielle resumed her first area of expertise, that of accounting. This love for accounting enriched the next 30 years, particularly in Valleyfield, where she successfully teamed up with Sister Adélard-Marie. Cheerful and even-tempered, she was a pleasant and reliable companion.

When she retired to Résidence Sainte-Émélie, she rendered a great deal of community services. Admitted to the Infirmary at the age of 95, she could look back with serenity at her wholesome life balanced with conscientious work and fidelity to the Lord on the path marked out by Him.

At the time of her final farewell, some of her nephews paid this well-deserved tribute to their aunt: Faithfulness, joy, wisdom, love, nobility, and humour. “We never saw her in a bad mood, she would laugh, immersed in life, listened to hockey games and knew all the players, a grand lady in her everyday life, faithful in the giving of herself, of her goodness, and of her prayers... »