SISTER GEORGINE CHAMPAGNE

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SISTER GEORGINE CHAMPAGNE Peacefully, on October 30, 2006, after a long illness, Sister Georgine Champagne returned to the Father at Taché Centre surrounded by religious companions and personnel of Taché Centre. Sister Georgine was born in Ste-Anne-des-Chênes, Manitoba on November 24, 1919. Her parents were Charles Auguste Champagne and Ernestine Tougas. Georgine was the third of a family of ten children. Having lost her mother at the age of 9 years old, her father, a man of great faith succeeded in bringing up the family with the help of family members. At the age of 18, Georgine had the opportunity to work at St. Boniface General Hospital. Having come in contact with the sisters at the hospital and knowing her three aunts, her mother's sisters as Grey Nuns, Georgine was touched by their lives of dedication and requested her entrance to the Grey Nuns' Novitiate on August 5th, 1938. On February 15th, 1941, she consecrated herself to God on the footsteps of Saint-Marguerite d'Youville in the service of the poor. Immediately after her profession, Sister Georgine was missioned to St. Michel, North Dakota U.S.A. where she became the house mother for young children. Later, for the next 15 years, it is in Lebret, Saskatchewan that Sister Champagne continued this same ministry. Back in Manitoba, after completing her studies as a licensed practical nurse, she dedicated herself for the care of the sick. St. Boniface General, St. Joseph Hospital in Gravelbourg, SK, St. Boniface Sanatorium and Taché Nursing Centre benefited from her compassion and love. Sister Georgine loved the sick and did not spare anything to be of help to whoever requested her help. When her strength failed, Sister Georgine accepted to come back to the Provincial House where she continued to help in various community services. Nevertheless, her health continued to decline and Sister Champagne was admitted at Taché Nursing Centre on March 18, 2004. Sister Georgine leaves to mourn her stepmother, Martha, four brothers: Louis (Rita); Emile (Jeannette); Germain (Jeannine); Gilles (Mary, Patricia); and one sister in law, Freda, one cousin religious, Sister Marie Tougas, sgm, a cousin priest: Father Léonce Aubin as well as many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her parents, two sisters: Noëlla and Cécilia Rivard, three brothers: Laurent, Bernard and Jacques. A liturgy of the Word will be held on Thursday, November 2, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Résidence Despins, 151 Despins Street. The funeral will be celebrated the next day at the same place at 1:30 p.m. and will be presided by Father Léonce Aubin. The Grey Nuns wishes to thank Taché Nursing Centre particularly the personnel of 5 ABC as well as the pastoral workers, for the excellent care provided to Sister Champagne. The Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements, 233-4949 or toll free 1-888-233-4949.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 01, 2006