Sister Bernadette Lemire

On July 13, 2025,

at Maison Jésus-Marie, in Longueuil,

Sister Bernadette Lemire (Hubert-de-Marie)

went home to God.

She was the daughter of Marie-Blanche Guillemette and Hubert Lemire.

She was 98 years old, with 74 years as a vowed religious sister.

The last of 12 children, Bernadette was born on July 16, 1926, in Sainte-Catherine -de-Katevale (diocese of Sherbrooke). Her parents were farmers and, in order to meet the needs of their large family, they moved to the state of Vermont, U.S.A.  Bernadette grew up speaking French at home, and English outside the home. “This allowed each child to be worth two people when they grew up”, her mother used to say.

Two aunts and two of her sisters were sisters in other congregations. However, Bernadette chose to be a religious sister in a place where no one knew her.  So, she went to Outremont to join the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, on January 12, 1949. She taught in both French and English, becoming a great history teacher until she had a special call to be a teacher and pastoral worker in Temiscaming, in Northern Quebec, for seven years. She said that those were her happiest years.

Bernadette dedicated the rest of her professional life to the Congregation as interpreter and translator. She excelled in this service, fostering communication and unity within our congregation. She was generous with her time, and shared her many gifts, such as singing, accompanying the sick, pastoral care, and working on the Justice and Peace Committee. “When I was a missionary novice, she taught me how to plan the liturgy in the convent chapel, and to lead the music for Mass at school. This planted the seeds for my ministry over the years”, said a member of her SNJM community at Holy Names High School.

A profound feeling of gratitude

marked Bernadette’s life and spirituality.