Sister Estelle Goyette

“I was full of joy when I set out for the house of the Lord.” Ps. 121

March 12, 2013, Sister Estelle Goyette,
in religion Marie-Pierre-Bernard
went home to God.

She was 89 years old and had been professed for 64 years.
Born in Valleyfield, Quebec, she was the 4th of 13 children of Alida Goyette and Marie-Eva Dandurand.

Like her mother, Estelle studied with the SNJM Sisters, at Pensionnat de Valleyfield, located directly in front of the family home. She then worked in accounting in an office for 3 years. She was 24 years old when she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, in Outremont.

The teaching career of Sister Pierre-Bernard spanned 24 years, particularly with high school students in Saint-Lin, and Beauharnois; in Montréal: Boucher-de-la-Bruyère School, Pensionnat Marie-Rose, Régionale Le Royer and Eulalie-Durocher School. Her success corresponded to her competence. Her students appreciated their teacher and earned her their profound gratitude.

Sister Estelle’s talent and keenness for mathematics led her to serve successively as provincial treasurer at Maisonneuve and as the person in charge of the Service financier du Québec for 33 years.

“It was such a pleasure for me to work in this field, like some of my brothers and sisters, a talent which we probably inherited from our mother.”

During these 33 years, she shared community life with a small group of SNJM Sisters in houses at Maisonneuve, Préfontaine, and Édouard-Montpetit.

“At Résidence Maisonneuve, Sister Estelle became involved in the local community project: welcoming refugees from South-East Asia and Central America, and wholeheartedly participated in it.”

When she was 82 years old, her health began to deteriorate and she moved to Maison Jésus-Marie in Longueuil.

“She worked quietly, giving the best of herself as long as she possibly could. Those who lived with Sister Estelle recalled her very personal way of being present to others. She listened attentively, with her mind and heart. Her peacefulness, discretion, humility and respect for people” was rooted in prayer and in her commitment to the Word of God.