Memorial Mass: Remembering Sister Jacqueline Desroches
Saturday September 8, 2018 Back to Around the Diocese
A Memorial Mass, presided by Most Reverend Gerard Bergie, will be celebrated for Sister Jacqueline DesRoches at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria on Wednesday, September 12th at 7 p.m. Sister Jacqueline died on July 11th in Kingston, Ontario. She spent 18 wonderful years serving the people of St Catharines at Hotel Dieu Hospital and Hotel Dieu Shaver until her retirement in 2014.
Sister Marie “Jacqueline” Desroches, R.H.S.J.
5th January 1921 – 11th July 2018
Sister Jacqueline Desroches was born on January 5th, 1921, to Judith Gaudet and Joseph Desroches of Collette, New Brunswick, one of 11 children.
She entered the Religious Hospitaller of St. Joseph in Chatham New Brunswick on August 17th, 1941, making her First Profession on August 28th, 1943 and her final profession on August 28th, 1946.
For 52 years Sister Desroches worked in Chatham (Miramichi) in various capacities. From 1943 to 1968 she served in the dietary department in both the hospital and the convent of the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Chatham, as well as serving as sacristan and bookkeeper at Mount St. Joseph. She then took on the role of treasurer at St. Michael’s Convent, a post she held from 1968 to 1974.
In 1974 Sister earned a certificate in Pastoral Care Service from the Catholic Hospital Association of Canada and began serving in the Pastoral Care department at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Chatham until 1975. At that time, she became the Hospital’s Admitting Officer, serving in that position until 1989. From 1989 to 1995 she was the Local Superior of St. Michael’s Convent.
In 1995 Sister spent a sabbatical year at the Galilee Mission Centre in Arnprior and then moved to the R.H.S.J. Community in St. Catharines, ON. From 1996 until 2005 Sister Jackie volunteered in the Pastoral Care Department of Hotel Dieu Hospital, St. Catharines as well as serving as the RHSJ Community’s Local Treasurer from 1999-2014.
On September 27th, 2014 Sister Desroches moved to Kingston, ON joining the RHSJ community at the Sisters of Providence Motherhouse.
Photo Credit: Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre Facebook
Throughout Jackie’s life she was known for her amazing sense of humour and her contagious laugh and quick wit. Sister had the ability to engage others with stories and humour, sometimes at her own expense. Among her many talents were her cooking skills, including poutine, her craft in sewing, adept at calligraphy, and an artist which many friends from the Miramichi have acquired copies. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Jackie felt blessed to have her in their lives. Jackie inspired others by her ability to be kind, forgiving, gentle and loyal to the end no matter what she was engaged in. The world has indeed been blessed by her presence and she will be dearly, dearly missed. Jackie was able to relate to the old and the young alike, and as one of her young friends stated recently “he was inspired by her gracefulness and comforted by her gentleness”.
Jackie dearly loved her family, her Religious community, friends from far and near, and her strong Acadian heritage which she was so proud of.
Jackie’s life could be summed up as the kindest of souls who inspired others how to live and enjoy life to the fullest.
Sister Jacqueline died peacefully on Wednesday, July 11th, 2018 at the Sisters of Providence Motherhouse, Kingston, ON.
May she Rest in Peace