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Sister Jeannette Lalonde (Sister M. Jeannette)

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(June 15, 1923 – June 10, 2015) - It is with deep sadness that the Sisters of St. Joseph announce the death of Sister Jeannette Lalonde on Tuesday, June 10, 2015, at St. Joseph’s Motherhouse, North Bay.

Sister Jeannette was born on June 15, 1923, in O’Donnell, Ontario, a small town on the other side of Creighton Mine.  The family moved to Sudbury when Jeannette was seven years old where she attended St. Albert’s School.  Sister Jeannette entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 8, 1940. Sister received her High School Assistant’s Certificate and began her teaching ministry in 1944, at Holy Angels School, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Her role as educator brought her to Schreiber, Wawa, North Bay, and Ferris.  She finished her teaching career in 1968, at Mount St. Joseph in Sault Ste. Marie.   In that year, she was named Secretary General of the Sisters of St. Joseph and remained in that position until 1982. Sister served as Secretary in the Chancery Office from 1982 until 1990.  She was secretary to several Bishops: Bishop Carter, Bishop Gervais and Bishop Plouffe from 1990 until 1996. She then enjoyed a well deserved sabbatical until 1997. She was named Assistant Administrator of the Sisters of St. Joseph-1998 to 2001 and then served as Secretary to the Assistant Administrator until she retired in 2010.  Sister Jeannette is predeceased by her parents Onesime Lalonde and Rose Anne Charron; sisters;  Eva McDonald (Archie), Ida Bell (Bob), Florence Watts (Fred), Bertha Vaillancourt (Leo), Lucy McDonald (Tom), brothers; Edward, Lawrence (Gabrielle), Leo (Grace), Arthur (Pierrette) and Father Bill Lalonde.  She is survived by sisters Rhea Keegan (Cecil) and Leona Cook (Jack) and several nieces and nephews.

Sister Jeannette will be remembered as a woman of deep faith, and valiant courage. Students remember her with great affection and awe.  Jeannette not only taught her students how to play baseball, but she used her well-practised skills when coaching them for life.  Sister Jeannette’s love, prayer and care for clergy was nurtured by her affection and support of her brother, Father Bill.  That same love was most evident in her dedication, prayer and care for all members of her family, her friends and her sisters in the congregation.

The body of Sister Jeannette will be received at the Motherhouse at 2:00 pm., on Monday, June 15, 2015.  A prayer vigil will be held in the Holy Family Chapel at 7:00 p.m.  Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in the Sacred Heart Chapel.  Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, North Bay.
                                        
“May Sister Jeannette Rest In Peace”




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