Sister Marguerite Contant

“ Whoever welcomes you; welcomes Me.”   Mt 10: 40

February 9, 2009, Sister Marguerite Contant,
 her religious name, Sister Stanislas-de-l’Immaculée,
went home to God at the age of 94.
She had been professed for 70 years.

Born in Montreal, Quebec; the daughter of Stanislas Contant and Ernestine Lachapelle
she was the eighth of nine children.

Sister Marguerite spent the first 33 years of her religious life with great zeal and love, teaching at the elementary and secondary levels. She was a very loving, reserved, tenacious and, at times, opinionated woman.

At the age of 59, active, very responsible and generous with her time, she served first as a secretary within a parish setting, then at the Conference of SNJM Provincial Superiors of Quebec and finally at the Inter-provincial Centre. 

When she was 84 years old, she accepted the responsibility of the “Procure des Missions”. A friend gave the following testimony:  “Sister Marguerite was a calm and quiet woman. Without engaging much in conversation, she always had a welcoming smile and a friendly ear. Being a loner, she spoke little about herself and worked in an orderly and efficient manner.”   

Retired at the Sainte-Martine Residence, her time was fully occupied by her interests in hockey, global news and the internet.  She used the information highway to research and to communicate international events with the other Sisters.

Her illness took her to the infirmary at Maison Jésus-Marie, Longueuil, Quebec, where she prepared eagerly to be with the Lord, whom she had faithfully served.