SISTER AGNES VERMETTE

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SISTER AGNES VERMETTE, SNJM (SISTER PHILIPPE-ANDRE) Peacefully, on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, Sister Agnès Vermette died at St. Boniface Hospital. To mourn her passing, she leaves her sisters, Irène (Gabriel Ritchot) and Fernande, m.o., her sisters-in-law, Agnès, Emilienne and Cécile, numerous nieces and nephews, and members of her religious Congregation. Sister was predeceased by her parents, her sisters, Alice, Yvonne, snjm, Annette, and her brothers, André, Clovis, Ovide, Lucien, Roland, Gérard (died in infancy), Armand and Gérard. The eighth child of a family of 14, daughter of Berthe Touchette and Philippe Vermette, Agnès was born on August 28, 1921 in St. Jean Baptiste, Manitoba. She considered it a privilege to have grown up in the country, on a farm near Morris. Agnès attended a one-room school and then was a boarder at the convent during her high school years. Called to religious life, Agnès entered the novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, Quebec, on July 24, 1941 and made her final profession on August 5, 1948. Sister Agnès pursued her studies at Tuxedo and North Bay Normal Schools, and the University of Manitoba where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor in Education. She consecrated 30 years to education in the Manitoba and Ontario schools. She taught at the following schools: St. Mary's Academy, Sacré-Coeur, Ste Agathe, St. Joseph's Academy, Mount Carmel in Kenora, Somerset, Marion, St. Gerard and St. John Brebeuf. Sister Agnès taught students at all levels from Grade 1 to Grade 8. In 1975, after studies in Pastoral Care, Sister Agnès devoted herself in Pastoral ministry at St. Boniface General Hospital. During eight years, she visited the sick and brought them her gifts of compassion and good listening. Later on, Sister Agnès ministered in the St. Boniface Cathedral Parish where she visited the sick at home and brought them Holy Communion. Her interest for students brought her back to school where she served as a teacher assistant during nine years. As a true daughter of Mother Marie-Rose, Sister Agnès cared about the well-being of the less fortunate. Sharing her knowledge and skills, she spent many hours teaching adults at Centre Alpha in St. Boniface and helped families of refugees. Sister also volunteered at Centre Flavie-Laurent until her health failed. In November 2009, she moved to Taché Center where she lived until she was hospitalized. The Sisters and the family wish to thank the staff at Résidence Despins, Taché Center and the hospital for their compassionate care. A Celebration of the Word will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 6, at Résidence Despins, 151, Despins St., St. Boniface. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the same address. Interment will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10 at the St. Boniface Cemetery, Archibald St., St. Boniface. DESJARDINS 233-4949 1-888-233-4949

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 06, 2010