SOEUR VICTORINE SERVANT

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SOEUR VICTORINE SERVANT Le 6 juillet 2000, soeur Victorine (Vicky) Servant rejoignait en sa demeure Notre Seigneur, a lage de 66 ans. Vicky etait la troisieme dune belle famille canadienne-francaise de dix-sept enfants. Fille de Blanche-Alice Gagnon et de Louis Servant, Vicky est nee le 19 mai 1934 a Saint-Honore, comte de Chicoutimi (Quebec). Elle entrait au noviciat des Soeurs Grises de Nicolet (Quebec) a leur maison provinciale de 5 fevrier 1953 et prononcait ses voeux temporaires le 5 aout 1955. En 1960, elle se consacrait pour la vie a Dieu par ses voeux perpetuels a la Maison-Mere, a Montreal. Tout de suite apres sa profession, soeur Vicky a travaille aux orphelinats du Christ-Roi a Nicolet et a La Tuque jusquen 1964. On lui a demande a ce moment-la daller a Chesterfield Inlet pour y travailler a titre dhospitaliere denfants. En 1969, elle etait nommee a Pelly Bay, T.N.O. ou elle a assume dans lordre les taches suivantes: travailleuse sociale et communautaire de meme quen pastorale. De Pelly Bay, soeur Vicky se rendit a Rankin Inlet en 1976. Elle devait sy devouer genereusement, avec fidelite et amour jusquen avril 2000. Soeur Vicky a particuliement apprecie son travail en tant quagente de pastorale dans sa communaute de Rankin Inlet. Elle savait communiquer avec les gens et elle pouvait comprendre et aimer dun amour inconditionnel le peuple inuit. En bonne missionnaire, elle a compris et saisi limportance de respecter la vraie nature de ce peuple. La communaute inuit est, en general, fermee et communique peu. Respecter cette identite culturelle veut dire rester a lecoute - en silence - afin de proteger cette intimite, cet espace sacre - cette place de Dieu. Avec cette disposition, soeur Vicky priait avec aise. La vie est une vision de la nature contemplee par la voix du silence. Les jeunes lavaient gentiment sumommee "la soeur priante". Soeur Vicky est precedee dans la vie eternelle par ses parents, deux freres, Rene et Andre. Elle laisse dans le deuil neuf soeurs: Marcelle, Lucie (Alfred), Desneiges (Roger), Marie-Reine, s.g.m., Madeleine (Ronald), Gabrielle, o.f.s.p., Michelle (Cyprien), Francoise (Rene), Marie-Paule (Gaston) et cinq freres, Joseph-Eugene (Noella), Gerard (Rita), Georges-Henri (Betty), Lucien (Carole), Rosaire (Carmen) plusieurs neveux et nieces, cousins, cousines. Elle laisse aussi dans le deuil sa famille du Grand-Nord, dabord leveque du diocese de Churchill-Hudson Bay, Reynald Rouleau, le clerge, les catechistes et ses nombreux et chers amis de Rankin Inlet, Whale-Cove, Pelly Bay, Baker Lake, Churchill, Chesterfield Inlet et Arviat. Elle les a aimes dun grand amour, elle aurait voulue etre parmi eux pour toujours et a jamais. La messe de la resurection a eu lieu a Nicolet (Quebec), vendredi, 7 juillet 2000. Un service a la memoire de soeur Vicky aura lieu a la maison provinciale des Soeurs Grises, 151 rue Despins, a Winnipeg, jeudi, 13 juillet 2000 a 10h et le celebrant sera le pere Albert Bouffard, o.m.i. et un autre service aura lieu a Rankin Inlet, en septembre. Rejouissez-vous avec moi, je suis libre. Je vois enfin Son visage dans la lumiere. Jai pris sa main jai entendu son appel, Je me suis tournee vers Lui, jai tout abandonne. Les travaux en cours resteront inacheves Car jai enfin trouve la paix du soir. Si mon depart vous accable, Souvenez-vous de nos bonheurs Mais ne soyez pas tourmente par labsence Puisque demain le soleil brillera encore. Que Dieu voux garde en Son amour infini Tout au long de votre chemin damour et de vie. SISTER VICTORINE SERVANT On July 6, 2000 Sister Victorine Servant (Vicky) passed gently into the presence of her loving Lord at the age of 66 years. Vicky was third in a beautiful French Canadian family of 17 children. Daughter of Blanche-Alice Gagnon and Louis Servant, Vicky was born May 19, 1934 in St. Honore, comte de Chicoutimi, Quebec. She entered the Grey Nuns novitiate at the Provincial House in Nicolet, Quebec on February 5, 1953 and made her temporary commitment on August 5, 1955. In 1960 she consecrated herself totally to God by perpetual vows at the Mother House in Montreal. Immediately following profession, Sister Vicky worked in the Orphanages in Christ-Roi in Nicolet and La Tuque until August 1964 at which time she was asked to go forth to Chesterfield Inlet to work as house mother with the young boarders. Then in 1969 she was appointed to Pelly Bay, N.W.T. where she worked successively as social and community helper and parish pastoral worker. From Pelly Bay, Sister Vicky moved to Rankin Inlet in 1976 where she devoted herself unselfishly and with much dedication and love until April, 2000. Sister Vicky enjoyed her work as parish worker. She was a people person and as such she understood and loved the Inuit people. As missionary, she sensed the importance of respecting their differences. The Inuit community is a closed society with very little communication. To respect ones culture often means to remain silent so as not to disturb their intimacy - a sacred space - Gods space. Because of this attitude, Sister found it easy to pray here. Life is a contemplation of nature in an all encompassing silence. She had been nicknamed "the woman of prayer" by the young people. Sister Vicky was predeceased by her parents, and two brothers, Rene and Andre. She leaves to mourn nine sisters: Marcelle, Lucie (Alfred), Desneiges (Roger), Marie-Reine, s.g.m., Madeleine (Ronald), Gabrielle, o.f.s.p.; Michelle (Cyprien), Francoise (Rene), Marie Paule (Gaston) and five brothers, Joseph-Eugene (Noella), Gerard (Rita), Georges-Henri (Betty), Lucien (Carole), Rosaire (Carmen), many nieces, nephews, cousins. She also leaves in great mourning Bishop Reynald Rouleau of Churchill-Hudson Bay diocese, the clergy, the catechists and her many and dear friends of Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove, Pelly Bay, Baker Lake, Churchill, Arviat and Chesterfield Inlet. She loved them all and in her heart, she wanted to be with them forever. The funeral mass for Sister Vicky was held in Nicolet, Quebec, Friday, July 7. A memorial service will be held at the Grey Nuns Provincial House, 151 Despins St. in Winnipeg, Thursday, July 13 at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. Albert Bouffard, O.M.I. officiating. Another memorial service in Rankin Inlet sometime in September. Dont grieve for me, for now Im free Im following the path God has laid for me. I took His hand when I heard His call, I turned my back and left it all. Tasks left undone must stay that way, I found the peace at the close of day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joys Be not burdened with times of sorrow I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. May God keep you in His loving care As your path of love and trust you fare task

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 11, 2000