SOEUR DELVINA DESMARAIS

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SOEUR DELVINA DESMARAIS Paisiblement, le 29 decembre, est decedee, Soeur Delvina Desmarais a la Maison provinciale des Soeurs Grises a lage de quatre-vingt quatre ans. Nee a Dufresne, Manitoba le 5 octobre 1917 de Victoria Desrosiers et Francois-Xavier Desmarais, Delvina est la septieme dune famille de onze enfants. Sa soeur Rosa se joindra a elle chez les Soeurs Grises tandis que sa mere et deux autres de ses soeurs se consacreront au Seigneur dans le communaute des Petites missionnaires de Saint-Joseph dOtterburne. Au foyer des Desmarais fleurissaient la charite, la piete et toutes les valeurs religieuses traditionnelles. Entree au Noviciat a lage de 16 ans, le 6 aout 1934, Soeur Delvina prononce ses premiers voeux le 15 fevrier 1937 et fait son engagement definitif au Seigneur trois ans plus tard a la Maison-mere a Montreal. Plusieurs endroits beneficient des nombreux talents de Soeur Delvina: les hopitaux de Saint-Boniface, de La Verendrye a Fort Frances, Ontario, celui de Regina en Saskatchewan, lHospice Tache, le Sanatorium Saint-Boniface; les ecoles de Fort Frances et St. Michaels au Dakota Nord aux Etats-Unis, le Couvent de Saint-Norbert ainsi que la Maison provinciale a Saint-Boniface. Dans tous ces endroits, Soeur Delvina est heureuse de partager son temps et son devouement a titre dhospitaliere denfants et de vieillards, aide-infirmiere, sous maitresse au noviciat, superieure, catechese, sacristine, lingere et couturiere. Voila autant de services quelle rend a tous ceux et celles qui lui sont confies. Elle le fait avec joie et amour car partout ou elle passe, elle donne le meilleur delle-meme. Femme de priere et de foi, elle sait aussi passer de longs moments avec Celui qui est au coeur de son engagement. De plus, la lecture et lhistoire demeurent pour elle source dinteret et de passe temps. Elle est toujours avide de partager ses connaissances et lorsquelle peut aider dans la recherche, elle accepte volontiers de rendre ce service. Soeur Delvina laisse dans le deuil deux soeurs Soeur Francoise (Victoire), p.m.s.j.; Melina (Arthur Cote) une belle soeur Agnes (Dornez) ainsi que de nombreux neveux et nieces. Elle a ete precedee par ses parents Francois Xavier et Victoria (Desrosiers) trois soeurs, Soeur Laetitia, p.m.s.j., Soeur Rosa s.g.m. et Leona; cinq freres, Telesphore, Melchior, Leon, Fabien et Alfred. Une liturgie de la Parole sera celebree le dimanche 30 decembre a 19 h 30 a la Maison provinciale des Soeurs Grises au 151, rue Despins. La messe de la Resurrection sera celebree lundi 31 decembre a 10h00 au meme endroit par Mgr. Noel Delaquis. La direction des funerailles de Soeur Delvina Desmarais a ete confiee au Salon Funeraire Desjardins, 233-4949 ou sans frais 1-888-233-4949. SISTER DELVINA DESMARAIS Peacefully on December 29, Sister Delvina Desmarais returned to the Father at the Grey Nuns Provincial House. She was 84 years of age. Delvina Desmarais was born at Dufresne, MB on October 5, 1917. Her parents were Victoria Desrosiers and Francois-Xavier and Delvina was the seventh in a family of 11 children. Her sister Rosa joined her in the Grey Nuns congregation while her mother and two other sisters consecrated themselves to God in the congregation of the "Petites missionnaires de Saint-Joseph" of Otterburne, MB. In this Catholic family, charity, piety and all other traditional religious values flourished. Delvina commenced her novitiate in St. Boniface on August 5, 1934 when she was 16. She pronounced her first vows on February 15, 1937 and made her perpetual consecration to God three years later at the Mother House in Montreal. Many places benefitted from Sister Delvinas numerous gifts: St. Boniface Hospital as well as those of La Verendrye in Fort Frances, ON and Regina Grey Nuns in Saskatchewan. Sister also served at Tache Centre, the St. Boniface Sanatorium and schools of Fort Frances and St. Michaels in North Dakota, U.S.A.; St. Norbert convent as well as the Mother House in Montreal and the Provincial House in St. Boniface. In these places Sister Delvina was happy to share her time and devotedness as practical nurse, assistant director of the novitiate, local superior, catechist, sacristan and seamstress. All her services were performed with joy and deep love; wherever she passed Sister Delvina gave generously to others. Woman of prayer and faith, she passed long moments with the One who was at the heart of her commitment. Reading and history interested her particularly as hobbies. Sister was always pleased to share her knowledge with others and when requested to assist with research, she did so graciously. Sister Delvina leaves to mourn her passing two sisters, Sister Francoise (Victoire) PMSJ, Melvina (Arthur Cote) a sister-in-law Agnes (Dornez) as well as numerous nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her parents Francois Xavier and Victoria (Desrosiers) three sisters, Sister Laetitia, PMSJ, Sister Rosa, SGM, and Leona; and five brothers, Telesphore, Melchior, Leon, Fabien and Alfred. A liturgy of the Word will be celebrated on December 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Grey Nuns Provincial House on 151 Despins St. The funeral mass will be presided by Bishop Noel Delaquis, Monday, December 31 at 10:00 a.m. at the same place. Desjardins Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements 233-4949; toll free 1-888-233-4949.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 30, 2001