Sister Léda Lamarre

“Whatsoever you did to the least of these little ones you did onto me.” Mt. 25, 40

May 10, 2012, Sister Léda Lamarre
in religion Laure Marie
went home to God.

She was 91 years old and had been professed for 68 years.
 
Born in Ville Lemoyne, Quebec, she was the 7th of the 10 children of Lucien Lamarre and Laura Campeau.

Léda learned faithfulness and hard work from her parents.  “We were trained to share and to do without things.  When I was very young I developed an affinity for prayer drawn from my mother’s example”.  Léda studied at the parochial school before attending the 'Couvent de Saint-Lambert' which was under the direction of the SNJM’s. “My two years at boarding school definitely prepared me for the novitiate.”  Attracted by teaching, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary when she was 20 years old.

Sister Laure-Marie specialized in working with young people for 47 years, 34 of which she taught Grades One and Four at the primary level. She first taught in Montreal and then in the Eastern Townships before working at Mont-Jésus-Marie in Outremont for 22 years, as a first-grade teacher and then as directress of students.

Sister Léda was characterized by her gentleness and her great patience with the children. Her “spirit of ‘duty’, -  as she wrote – “of obedience sustained by prayer, following the example of Mother Marie-Rose”  brought her “years of happiness “.

When she was 70 years old, Sister Léda served our Sisters at the Motherhouse: helping out in the infirmary, the pharmacy, and at reception. She was 83 when she was admitted to the infirmary. For her, the Gospel and the SNJM Mission were the central themes in a daily life that was not always easy. Her grateful heart found its source of peace, strength and joy in the Lord to whom she gave herself completely.