Sister Lucille Plourde

“You are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you.”  Is. 43, 4

February 13, 2012, Sister Lucille Plourde,
in religion Marie-Cécile-Augustine
went home to God.

She was 95 years old and had been professed for 71 years.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, she was the 2nd of 8 children of Albert-René Plourde and Augustine Blais.

At a very young age, Lucille had thought about becoming a Carmelite.  At home she had learned how to share her games and toys as well as learning homemaking skills.  Her penchant for teaching came from the influence of her SNJM teachers at Madeleine-de-Verchères School and at the Pensionnat Mont-Royal.  At the age of 22, and after a year of teaching private courses, it was to this Congregation that she would go.

Sister Cécile-Augustine taught all levels of primary and secondary education, and was an excellent French teacher. “Students considered her to be a demanding teacher ‘but with Sister Lucille, they said, we learned’.” After 44 years of regular teaching, she continued teaching as a substitute teacher and worked as a library assistant at École Marie-Rose until the age of 75!

Valiantly, Sister Lucille would work for another 9 years as library assistant at our Motherhouse, travelling morning and evening to provide this service.  At Résidence Marie-Rose-Durocher, at the age of 84, having accepted to no longer travel, she served the community in many ways, especially as a receptionist. In addition to this, she was often asked to revise documents and write up the obituaries of our deceased sisters.

During the past few years, her eye sight gradually weakened, her deafness worsened, her strength diminished, and her heart had to work harder...But Sister Lucille kept up contact with her family and remained faithful to the rituals which shaped her days: prayer, the Eucharist, rosary, crossword puzzles, solitaire games, snatches of conversation, contemplation in front of «her» tree which she admired during each season. She loved silence, prayer, and solitude.

"It can be said that she was not indifferent to this advice from our foundress: “Endure everything, bear everything without saying anything and make no one suffer.”   Sister Lucille put into practice the art of growing old gracefully: “Let go of everything”. Gently she became detached from her possessions – her room was one of the barest – and of her health. With wisdom, calm, serenity and gratitude she contributed to the happiness of those around her.”

When, after 27 years she left Résidence Marie-Rose-Durocher for Maison Jésus-Marie, we suspected that Sister Lucille would not be able to return. A month and a half later she met with Jesus and Mary whom she had greatly loved and served with her whole heart since her childhood.