Obituary of SISTER MARIE LOUISE CECILE GRANGER, RNDM

SR. MARIE LOUISE CÉCILE GRANGER RNDM

Sister Marie Louise Cécile Granger RNDM, died peacefully at Actionmarguerite-Taché Personal Care Home in Winnipeg in the early afternoon of March 11, 2019.  She was 98 years of age.

Cécile entered the world in Letellier, Manitoba on October 2, 1920, the third of eleven children born to Zotique Granger (originally from Drummondville, PQ) and Juliette Barnabé (originally from Letellier).  She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her sisters Therese Gregoire, Marcelle Granger Gentes, Aline Gentes, Carmelle Houle, and by her brothers Henri, Hercule, and Marc.  She is survived by her brother Jules, her sisters Juliette and Germaine, her religious community, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Cécile grew up and attended school in Letellier.  In 1942, she left that community to enter the novitiate of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM) in Regina, making her perpetual vows in 1951. 

Over the course of her long religious life, Cécile taught for twenty-five years in the Junior and Secondary classrooms of public schools in St. Eustache, Ste Rose du Lac, Letellier, St. Joseph, Elie and St. Boniface in MB, as well as in Longueuil, QC.  She is remembered as a dedicated, skilled and enterprising educator, as well as a life-long learner.

Retiring from teaching school in 1972, Cécile took a much appreciated sabbatical at the Pastoral Institute in Lyons, France.  On her return to MB in 1973, she worked in adult education at St. Boniface Cathedral, as well as subsequently working for the Marriage Tribunal of the Archdiocese until 1992.

In 1989, Cécile moved to St. Edward’s convent, and became active in St. Edward’s parish, participating until 2007 in a group providing pastoral care for the sick of St. Edward’s.  In a journal entry, Cécile noted the great joy she felt in visiting the sick and the “shut -ins”. 

Cecile was a proud Franco-Manitobain, and a strong advocate for the French language and culture.  She had a rich sense of humour and loved having fun - which was particularly nourished and stoked in the company of other Francophones.  

As she aged, she particularly sought to deepen her prayer life, and in another journal entry she noted “I am grateful to the Sisters of St. Benedict and Sister Claire Himbeault RNDM, for learning about Centering Prayer.  I have made this practice mine, and it is for me a fruitful spiritual exercise.”

In 2007, Cecile moved to Despins Residence where she happily lived within a community of her peers.  She appreciated having more time to read, to pray, to learn, as well as to visit with family and friends.    

The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions are most grateful to the nursing staff at Despins Residence, and Actionmarguerite - Taché for the care given to Sr. Granger.  They are also grateful to Bonnie Dickie, RNDM Elder Care Coordinator, who was generous, kind and attentive to Cecile’s changing needs.

Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be on Friday, March 15, at Résidence Despins, 151 Rue Despins at 1.30 p.m. 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.