SOEUR ALICE BENOIT

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SOEUR ALICE BENOIT (SISTER EMILIA) Fille de la Croix (Sister of the Cross) November 21, 1909 - September 9, 2006 On Saturday, September 9, 2006, Soeur Alice Benoît, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 years, at the Provincial House of the Sisters of the Cross (66 Moore Ave. in Winnipeg), where she retired in July of 1999. Soeur Alice Benoît was predeceased by her parents, Emile Benoit + and Emilia Jodoin +; and three brothers, Donat + (Berthe Roy +), Joseph-René + (Mary McNally +) and Gérard + (Gertrude Morriseau +); and her sister Lina +. Soeur Alice Benoît leaves to mourn her passing her sister Laurette (Eddie Beatty) as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many true and faithful friends. Soeur Alice Benoît was born in Ste-Anne-des Chênes, MB. Some years later, the family moved to Willow-Bunch, SK, where Alice attended elementary school. That is where she came to know Les Filles de la Croix. She joined the Congregation in 1929 and made her final commitment at our Mother House (La Puye, France), in 1934. She remained in France until 1946 when she returned to St. Adolphe, MB. In 1931, Soeur Alice began her teaching career in Saumur, France. In 1939, the Second World War broke out and any hopes of returning to Canada would have to be placed on hold. In 1946, her teaching career would take her from the city of Saumur, France, back to Canada where she taught in several schools in rural Manitoba. Her students appreciated her classes in physical education, interpretive dance, art and singing. Those were times when artistic expression in these fields was not always looked upon with a great deal of approval or enthusiasm but Soeur Alice understood, even in those early years, that teaching the child also meant taking into account the whole person. This later became known as the holistic approach to teaching. Soeur Alice Benoît was first and foremost a Fille de la Croix . During 77 years she lived her commitment to love, serve, teach and heal in all manner of ways as dictated by our Charism and by the needs of each moment in time. In all Soeur Alice taught school (formally) for 35 years. However, whether in or out of the school system , she always remained a teacher and a mentor , in the finest sense of these words. Former students, parishioners, priests, Sisters of the Cross and countless others, attribute an inner healing, life changing decisions, a deeper grasp of their commitments, be it in their life of faith or in their personal relationships, to the extra ordinary combination of intuition perception which characterized Soeur Alice. Through her art she continued to share her deep and simple relationship with her God. The many banners she designed for church use and the sharing sessions she conducted on Scripture attest to her undying desire to proclaim the love and caring of the God of Jesus, the Christ. Les Filles de la Croix and the Benoît family would like to thank the staff at 66 Moore Ave. for their loving and attentive care of our Sister. Their dedication has been very special and greatly appreciated. Prayers for Soeur (Sister) Alice Benoît will held on Tuesday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. at 66 Moore Ave., Winnipeg. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 66 Moore Ave., Winnipeg, on Wednesday, September 13 at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Fr. Robert McDougall will be officiating. Interment will take place at St. Adolphe Cemetery located in St. Adolphe, MB. LeCLAIRE BROTHERS in care of arrangements. 775-2220.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 12, 2006