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SISTER MARGARET DICK, SNJM (SISTER ROBERT JAMES)
Date of Passing: Apr 24, 2019
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SISTER MARGARET DICK, SNJM
(SISTER ROBERT JAMES)
Margaret leaves, to mourn her loss, two sisters, Louise (Thibeault) and Suzanne (Shott); two brothers, Robert and Brian, her nieces and nephews, the Fort Qu'Appelle community, Father Glenn Zimmer, and his Oblate community, and her own Holy Names sisters.
Margaret Dick was educated by Sisters of the Holy Names at Holy Cross School and St. Joseph's Academy. The summer after her graduation, she felt God calling her to religious life and entered the Sisters of the Holy Names novitiate in Montreal.
During her early years as a vowed Sister, Margaret served as a teacher, and sometimes a principal, at numerous schools run by her religious community: Immaculate Conception, St. Ignatius, St. Gerard's, St. John Brebeuf, and St. Maurice Roche in Flin Flon. She enjoyed her years in the classroom, whether teaching in the primary grades or Junior High. As time passed, however, Sr. Margaret was increasingly drawn to ministry outside the classroom. In 1975, after completing her B.A., she enrolled at the Institute for Spiritual Studies at Berkeley College in California. Upon her return to Manitoba, she ministered at Notre Dame Parish in Kenora.
Sr. Margaret resumed her studies in spirituality in Chicago and completed her Masters in 1983. Her desire to become a spiritual director was realized in 1987, when Fr. Glenn Zimmer, O.M.I. invited her to join his retreat staff at Queen's House in Saskatoon. Eight years later, when Fr. Glenn accepted a challenge to turn a country estate into a House of Prayer at Fort Qu'Appelle, and invited Margaret to join him in this pioneering effort, she said "yes".
Life at Qu'Appelle House of Prayer came with new delights and new challenges: a beautiful chapel forged in the wilderness; a garden to tend and canning to be done; daily supper to be prepared for guests. Margaret, a city girl, came to love the rural setting and solitude. During her years at the House of Prayer, Margaret lived a distance from her religious community, so she happily accepted the Oblates' invitation to become an associate member and, as such, she participated in their meetings, social events and retreats. The Oblates so appreciated Margaret's presence in their midst, that they recently asked permission from their General Leadership to make her an "honorary Oblate" this June.
Sr. Margaret always found creative new ways to reach those she directed at a deep level. She had a special gift for listening. Fr. Glenn, ever touched by Margaret's childlike inner self, said, "It seemed the child in her was deeply attracted to any small child she encountered, and the child always seemed drawn to Margaret." Sr. Margaret, you will be missed.
Colleagues and friends of the Qu'Appelle House of Prayer will gather at the Catholic Church in Fort Qu'Appelle on April 30 at 11:00 a.m. for a Eucharistic Celebration of Life. Mass of the Resurrection will take place at Residence Despins, 151 Despins Street, St. Boniface on May 2 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at St. Boniface Cemetery, 917 Archibald Street.
E.J. Coutu & Co. Funeral Directors
680 Archibald Street
204-253-5086
ejcoutu.ca
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 27, 2019
Condolences & Memories (3 entries)
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Sister Margaret and I became acquainted when I was a young wife and mother of a little girl when we lived close to and attended St. Gerard Church. Sister Margaret was, at that time, working at the parish and involved in a number of parish events and the St. Gerard School, to which our daughter attended. Also at that time, my mother was seriously ill with metastasized breast cancer and going through the various and progressive stages of this disease. My mom and I were incredibly close and because I was still young myself, it was a terrifying and devastating experience for both of us. I was trying so hard to support my mother in so many ways at that time," being there for her", calling her daily, praying with her and attending healing services and prayer meetings, having her and my dad for many dinners, doing her Christmas baking and wrapping and offering all of my love and help....I just wanted to do everything possible to express my love and solidarity with her. One of the most important desires my mother and father had during this difficult time was the loss of their ability to attend the Catholic Church and with the help of Sister Margaret and Father Raymond Baudry, I was able to reconnect my mom and my father with their Catholic faith. My mother had been divorced and therefore, when she married my dad, they could not be married or receive sacraments in the Catholic Church. They were both so "died in the wool" Catholics that although we attended the United Church, we did everything Catholic. At age 15, I converted to Catholicism too. I met with Father Baudry and explained my mother's situation and her desire, with my dad, to reconnect with the church and he provided me with information and the address, in Rome, to request an annulment. He also encouraged me to try. I ended up being successful and shortly before my mother died, she and my dad were married at St. Edward's Catholic Church. I will never forget all of Sister Margaret's love, help and support to me at that time. She gave me books to read about "Life After Life", prayed with me, and guided me in trying to keep my life together. I was still a wife and mother and my family needed me too...so Margaret's loving advice about finding balance between my love for my mom, my efforts to help and support her and love her and to also support my dad, plus my equally important devotion to my own husband and child, were golden. I could not have gotten through this difficult time of my life without her. She helped me also to not rely on her but to rely on myself. Her was a truly holy ministry and Sister Margaret maintained our friendship throughout this difficult time until my mother died. We continued to be friends until she moved to Saskatoon. I thank God for her and she will live forever in my memories and in my heart. Rest in Peace, dear Sister Margaret! - Posted by: E JANE CAMPBELL (Former parishioner at Set. Gerard's Parish) on: May 01, 2019
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Her kind and gentle manner touched me to my core. I am grateful for the things she taught me and for our great conversations. She will always have a special place in my heart and in my memories. I will miss you my friend! - Posted by: Gaetane (Friend) on: May 01, 2019
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Glenn Zimmer Apr 27, 2019 The sadness for me and for so many at this time is wonderfully held by our deep gratitude for your time among us ... a life of gentle strength ... and now with all in eternal life. You have long been an Easter Woman, and never more than now in your Resurrected Life. Go into the light, Glenn Zimmer, OMI Companion and Co-Worker Qu'Appelle House of Prayer Fort Qu'Appelle Saskatchewan - Posted by: Glenn Zimmer (Co-Worker) on: Apr 27, 2019