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- [S5] Obituary.
Jacqueline Gamache was born in the Ste-Catherine parish of Montreal on 24 February 1921 and became a child of God that day. Her father, Leon Gamache, was a butcher-grocer. Her mother, Cécile Allard is one of these brave women, completely devoted to the care of her beloved family. Jacqueline is the third of seven children. She lived a happy childhood in a wealthy and deeply Christian family. The Spirit fills her by the shedding of his gifts in the sacrament of confirmation, April 19, 1928. With many talents, she does well in school. In elementary school, she received the good humor prize. She studied at the Academy of the Sisters of Notre Dame congregation until the ninth year; she continues one year at St Patrick's Academy to learn English, and one year at the Family Institute of the Sisters of the Good Council. She also studied the piano for 5 years, but did not practice as this bored her to play scales while her mother, an organist at the parish, played beautiful pieces.
Jacqueline is 14 years old when a priest asked her if she had thought about religious life. The issue is the way in his heart. As she did not like teaching, it spoke of our Congregation. At 18, she began her steps to her arrival to the Servants of Jesus and Mary which she takes vows for on November 21, 1940. She must return to her family on 1 February 1941 in order to undergo surgery, but will return again, September 24, 1941. Community input, she is content with little and shows no requirement. Sister Jacqueline is very grateful to her first training teacher who introduced her to the writings of our Founding Father
where she is, she says, a real spiritual and physical pharmacy.
With exemplary loyalty, she is soon appointed assistant to the novitiate where her presence is gratifying and fulfilling. There entrusted the formation of the postulants, in November 1955, a position she will fill for 4 years. Of those it received, 27 have persevered which 8 are still alive. They still remember her encouragement and her teachings, particularly those concerning the true devotion to Mary. They also testify to her beneficial influence at the beginning of their religious life.
Her dedication to roberie of the parent is remarkable. The staff is numerous and it is that everything is perfect. The dresses are difficult to maintain, a significant weakness of the eyes does not facilitate the task.
She then performs the role of assistant in our various monasteries. On 16 January 1998 she finally returned to the parent house where she is expected to community nursing. Under the gaze of her Good Mother of Heaven, she lives in serenity her oblation for the vocation, spreading joy with her fellow sufferers with her good sense of humor.
December 18, 2010, she fell and fractured a shoulder and right arm. She underwent surgery on December 20 to receive a full prosthesis from the bone and her shoulder is immobilized for 30 days. She is asked: how are you? She answers invariably: Three stars okay! January 13, 2011, pulmonary fibrosis requires constantly needed oxygen, given her age.
Sister Jacqueline remains this pleasant companion who never complains, always grateful, spreading
joy through the stories she loves to tell us. Throughout her life she has built us up by
its generous availability, remarkable fidelity in small things and great fervor.
Servant and soul singing, she left everything quietly to join the heavenly choirs during the night of 24 July 2012, at the age of 91 years, 70 years of religious life.
At her death, our great friend Murielle Smith wrote: "It seems that the Magnificat is the appointment to bless the Author of all good, this life wholly given to Eucharistic worship as the spiritual service of the sisterhood. For postulants, she was a kind of model of a life still hidden in mystery. It was a beautiful all happy and smiling sister, unvarnished or artifice, living simply, in love and humor, the sacred history of her life with the Beloved. That she basks forever in the Heart the beloved, but Thanksgiving and praise to celebrate this blessed death which unveils the beauty and grandeur of a life wholly given to the Father in his beloved Son, by the Spirit and Mary . "
Dear Sister Jacqueline, we keep you, the memory of a religious always radiant with joy.
At 91, she still would have won the prize for the good mood.
Departure to the eternal homeland took place so quickly that you hardly have had time to say goodbye, . That is why it is difficult to get used to your absence The funeral liturgy was chaired by Fr. André Picard, chaplain, Friday, July 27, at 14 pm. Her brother Gilles of 89 years and some of his family members are present. Bright sunshine accompanied us for the journey to the cemetery, reflect what was our sister Jacqueline us. "In the Paradise of God, victorious, she will receive the promised inheritance. "
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1921 - 2012 (91 years)
