Sister Lucie Laurendeau

“We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Th. 1: 2-3)

May 28, 2012, Sister Lucie Larendeau,
in religion Marie-Jean-Dominique
went home to God.

She was 95 years old and had been professed for 73 years.
 Born in St-Barthélemy, Quebec,
she was the daughter of Édouard Laurendeau and Virginie Bérard.

Lucie’s mother died when she was born. The family already consisted of several children; Raymonde, who entered the S.N.J.M. Congregation before Lucie, was 3 years old at the time. Six months after her mother’s death, her father remarried his deceased wife’s cousin. This woman courageously raised 11 children in an atmosphere of faith and work.

Lucie’s vocation grew with her: she studied at the parish school where the SNJM Sisters were teaching, and the family was occasionally visited by 7 aunts who were SNJM Sisters, three of her mother’s sisters and four of her stepmother’s sisters.

After receiving her Brevet Supérieur at Joliette, with the CND Sisters, Lucie, who was then 19 years old, entered the novitiate. She noted “The novitiate exasperated me.”  But she philosophically added: “I know it is only for a short time.”  Sister Jean-Dominique’s wishes were fulfilled when she began to teach.

For 36 years, she taught in our primary and secondary schools, both in the public and private sectors: Beauharnois, Longueuil, Montreal, Waterloo, Sherbrooke, St-Hilaire, St-Lambert and La Patrie... “She was wholly given to instructing and teaching young people with dedication, initiative and creativity.”

At the age of 57, follwing a sabbatical year, Sister Lucie rendered a variety of services within and outside of the community: “Mother” to 6 or 7 orphans in a Youville group home, helping an elderly couple, assisting a woman who was paralyzed, hairdresser for our sisters, sacristan, receptionist, seamstress, and communion minister...

“Sister Lucie was always ready to help with great kindness in whatever way she could.” Our houses in East Angus, Valleyfield, and Ste-Martine were familiar with her dedication and her vitality.

Sister Lucie confided: “Jesus, like an interior fire, is at the center of my life: with Him everything becomes simplified. His love prevails over all of our trials, failings, discouragements, and apathy.  With Him, everything becomes possible.”

When she was 86, Sister Lucie was admitted to the infirmary at the Motherhouse. For 9 years, her physical and mental health progressively deteriorated. She died at Maison Jésus-Marie in Longueuil.

Sister Lucie’s life was a witness of hope and her love of the Eucharist.