SOEUR ZELIA AUGER

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

SOEUR ZELIA AUGER, M.O. (Soeur Marie St-Donat) Le calme regnait en Zelia et autour delle lorsquelle prit son envol vers la maison du Pere de bonne heure vers 6 h 10, le 17 avril 2002. Elle etait agee de 93 ans dont 72 de vie religieuse. Elle parlait beaucoup du ciel et ce avec une joie debordante. Zelia est nee a Berlius, New Hampshire, E.-U. Son pere, Donat Auger etait originalre de Ste-Sophie, QC, et sa mere Marie Lambert, de St-Agapit, QC. Ils etablirent domicile a Frenchville, SK. Cest en 1926 que Zelia fit son entree dans la Congregation des Missionnaires Oblates de St-Boniface. Apres sa profession elle oeuvra dans plusieurs de nos maisons. Voici le temoignage que plusieurs de ses compagnes lui rendent: "Femme de foi profonde. Esprit de service un peu rare. Sa joie etait de semer la joie - elle la vivait et la communiquait. Une de ses grandes caracteristiques: la simplicite en tout et partout et tout simplement elle nous partageait son secret de vie: Voir Jesus dans les autres, et elle singeniait a rencontrer les besoins des autres." Pendant son sejour a linfirmerie elle continua a semer la joie. En arrivant a la salle communautaire des malade, ca eclatait: "Bonjour les Soeurs". En depit de ses grandes souffrances, elle ne sest jamais apitoyee sur elle-meme. Elle avait une energie extraordinaire. "Zelia fut pour moi une Parole de Dieu. Elle etait un Evangile ecrit assez gros pour etre lisible," dit une compagne. On aurait beaucoup a dire de ses mains. A Cross Lake elle etait responsable de la boulangerie et de la cuisine - du pain elle en a partage! Puis des gateaux, elle en a decores, en plus de tricoter, de jardiner, etc. Zelia laisse dans le deuil une soeur religieuse, Soeur Marie-Aurelle de Ponteix, un frere Oscar et son epouse Jeanne, de nombreux neveux et nieces et une foule dami.e.s. Les prieres auront lieu samedi le 20 avril 2002 a 10 h 00 en la chapelle de la Maison Mere a 601 rue Aulneau, Winnipeg, MB, et les funerailles a 13 h 30 le meme jour au meme endroit. Le Pere Albert Bouffard, omi, presidera a la messe de la resurrection. Linhumation aura lieu au cimetiere de la rue Archibald, a St-Boniface. Les arrangements funebres ont ete confies au Salon Mortuaire Cropo. Avec toi Zelia nous chantons ton cantique prefere: "Prends mon coeur, le voila, Vierge ma bonne Mere, Cest pour se reposer quil a recours a toi .... SISTER ZELIA AUGER, M.O. (SISTER ST. DONAT) All was calm within Zelia and around her when the Lord came to take our Sister to the House of the Father early around 6:10 on April 17, 2002. She was 93 years old of which 72 in the religious life. She often talked about heaven with boundless joy. Zelia was born in Berlius, New Hampshire, USA. Her father, Donat Auger was from Ste. Sophie, QC, and her mother, Marie Lambert, from St. Agapit, QC. Later on they settled in Frenchville, SK. Zelia joined the order of the Missionary Oblates of St. Boniface in 1926. After taking her vows she was assigned to a number of houses of the Congregation. Here is the testimony that many of her co-sisters have voiced on her behalf: "Woman of deep faith. A great sense of service. Her joy was to spread joy - a joy she lived and communicated. One of her main characteristics was: simplicity everywhere and in all things, and with that same simplicity she shared her lifes secret: See Jesus in others, and she would go out of her way to meet other peoples needs." During her stay in the infirmary she continued to spread joy. When she arrived in the common room for the sick, she would burst out in joy, "Good day Sisters!" In spite of great suffering, she never expressed self pity. She had extraordinary energy. One Sister said: "For me, Zelia was a Word of God. She was a Gospel written in a large enough character to be read." There would be much to say about her hands. When she was in Cross Lake, she was responsible for the kitchen and the bakery. Many a loaf did she share! Numberless cakes did she decorate and there was also the knitting, the gardening, etc. Zelia leaves to mourn her passing a religious sister, Marie-Aurelie from Ponteix, SK, a brother Oscar and his wife Jeanne, many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Prayers will be recited on Saturday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel of the Mother House, 601 Aulneau St., Winnipeg, MB, and the Resurrection Mass will be celebrated on the same day at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel of the Mother House. Interment will follow. The Cropo Funeral Chapel is in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 19, 2002