Obituary of SR. JEANNINE EMMA FILLION, RNDM

SR. JEANNINE EMMA FILLION, RNDM Sister Jeannine Fillion (Sr. M. Anne de Jésus) RNDM, died peacefully at Action Marguerite-Valade Personal Care Home in Winnipeg on April 2 2017. Jeannine was preceded in death by her parents, Napoleon Fillion and Maria Anna Bérard. She was also predeceased by her siblings Philip and Normand, and her sister Florence Fillion, who was also a Sister of Our Lady of the Missions. Jeannine is survived by her brothers Léo, Raymond, Gerald, Normand, Maurice and Réal, and sisters Thérèse Beadry, Lilianne Dargis, and Noella Gauvin, as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Born October 10, 1932 in St. Jean Baptiste MB, Jeannine grew up in St. Joseph, MB. In 1950, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, at Jacques Cartier, Quebec, and made her perpetual vows in 1960 in Brandon, MB. Over the course of her religious life Jeannine served in many Canadian towns and cities in Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan as a teacher; she also worked in Winnipeg in hospitality ministry at Villa Maria retreat house, as a volunteer with women’s shelters, and with geriatric care at Taché. A caring teacher, Jeannine’s kindness and respect towards the children in her care was remarkable, as was her sense of humour and infectious laugh. She loved to sing, and formed children’s choirs as well as singing in choirs herself. Jeannine’s last years were spent in accepting the multiple diminishments of Alzheimer’s disease. In all of this, Jeannine’s relationship with God was central to her life, and her great faith was evident, as was her joy in the commonplace “miracles” of daily life. The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions and Sr. Jeannine’s family are most grateful to Bonnie Dickie, and to the staff at Action Marguerite-Valade for their competence, care and compassion, and for the many kindnesses they extended to Jeannine in her last years. Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be on Friday April 7 at Résidence Despins, 151 Rue Despins at 2.00 pm with Rev. Arthur Massé OMI presiding. 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, 393 Gaboury Place, Winnipeg, MB R2H 0L5.