Obituary of SISTER ANNA MARY ALICE MATHIEU, RNDM

SISTER ANNA MARY ALICE MATHIEU, RNDM Sister Alice Mathieu RNDM, died peacefully at Actionmarguerite/ Taché Personal Care Home in Winnipeg on September 25, 2014. Alice is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph-Adhémar Mathieu and Marie Alma Rondeau, who came to western Canada from southwestern Québec. She is also predeceased by her siblings Sr. Marie Blanche Mathieu FDLC, Antoinette Adèle (Émile) Fouquet, Flore Agnès (Dearrl) Morse, Marcelle Mathieu, sister-in-law Anita (Granger) Mathieu, adopted brother Marcel (Blanche) Whitmore, and brother-in-law Henri Campagne. Alice is survived by her sister Marie-Jeanne Campagne, her brother Charles, numerous nieces and nephews, and her religious family, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM). Born January 7, 1911 in Moose Jaw, SK, Alice grew up in a vivacious, religious, and musical French Canadian family in Willow Bunch, SK. In 1934, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, at Sacred Heart College in Regina SK, and made her perpetual vows in 1942. Alice served in many Canadian towns and cities over the course of her religious life. In the early years, she principally taught music and singing in schools and churches in Regina SK, Lebret SK, and Sioux Lookout ON. In 1969, she was transferred to Winnipeg, where she taught music and French at Morse Place school and then at St. Edward’s school, until she retired from classroom teaching in 1980. She continued to give private music lessons at St. Edward’s convent, and to use her musical gifts in the service of choirs and liturgy committees at St. Edward’s church and convent, until the convent was closed in 2007. Alice then moved to Cathedral Manor in the spirit of taking on another missionary endeavour. She enjoyed living at the Manor, delighting in the companionship of other residents, and playing the piano for any occasion. In 2009, after a series of falls, Alice moved to Actionmarguerite/Taché Personal Care Home, where she lived her last years in peace and joy. Throughout her life, Alice was a learner and a creator, particularly in the fields of music and the visual arts. In addition to piano and organ, she played the violin, recorder and mandolin. Her artistic endeavours saw her working in oil paints or watercolours. In her 80s, she took up woodcarving, and loved creating small sculptures. Alice had a wonderful sense of humour, and laughed easily. She was also a great story-teller, delighting in telling tales of her home at Willow Bunch, her early missions as an RNDM, or anyone of her daily adventures. The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions and Sr. Alice’s family are most grateful to the staff at Actionmarguerite/Taché for their competence, care and compassion, and for the many kindnesses they extended to Alice in her last years. Funeral Mass will be on Monday, September 29 at 1.00 pm in St. Edward’s Church, 836 Arlington Street with Rev. Louis McCloskey officiating. Interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers friends may wish to send a donation to the Mission Fund of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, 310 Provencher Blvd. Winnipeg MB, R2H 0G7.