Sister Monique Pagé

I was full of joy when I set out for the house of the Lord. Ps. 122

August 31, 2012, Sister Monique Pagé,
in religion Marie-Reine-Solange,
went home to God.
She was 86 years old and had been professed
for 67 years.

Born in Contrecoeur,Quebec,
she was the 2nd of 17 children of
Henri Pagé and Marie-Reine Hurteau.

“What happiness to live in beautiful surroundings – on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River – with parents who had deep faith, good sense, active charity, and who were committed to service in the Church and to education. Love, sharing and joy reigned supreme.”  Sister Monique witnessed to it in this way, “A path of sunshine which warmed an entire life!”

After completing her studies at rural schools and École Normale de Valleyfield, Monique gave private lessons in her parish for a year and then entered the novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. She was 17 years old.

For almost 40 years, Sister Reine-Solange taught from the 2nd grade to the 12th Grade in our schools and boarding schools, particularly at Stadaconna, Scotstown, Verchères and in the Secondary Schools in Beloeil and Osias-Leduc in Saint Hilaire. She was an assistant for the J.E.C. (Young Catholic Students), organized vocational camps, and was involved as a union representative.

When she was 50 years old, this committed and competent woman went to Haiti where she spent close to 5 years.  Upon her return, she was a substitute teacher at Collège Durocher-St-Lambert, as well as a receptionist and library assistant there. She faithfully kept track of the names of her former students. “Good memories, intellectual joy and successes of all kinds; correspondence, visits, telephone calls followed year after year.”

Sister Monique summarized her final years of active life: “The road is long and sometimes difficult to negotiate because osteoarthritis and arthritis wreak havoc and the heart also grows weary...” 

After having spent a total of 55 years in the field of education, she was admitted to the seniorate at the Motherhouse and then the Infirmary at the age of 77.

Even when she was ill, Sister Monique remained affable, open-minded, and happy with the visitors she received. Upon losing her autonomy, this generous woman accepted her condition. Her companions praised the Lord for “the friendship and joy which she was able to communicate through her good humour and teasing.”