Sister Denise Mercier
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Ps. 23)
On May 11, 2024, the feast of the Ascension,
Sister Denise Mercier,
whose religious name was Sister Marie-Jules,
went home to God.
She was 88 years old, with 66 years as a vowed religious.
Born in Beauharnois, Quebec, she was the third
of the seven children of Jules Mercier and Geneviève Leduc.
Denise was the oldest daughter in the family and had three younger sisters. One of the family pastimes was singing together and participating in various local choirs. Growing up in an atmosphere of harmony, she enjoyed contributing to the happiness of others through her kindness and attentiveness. At 19 years of age, Denise entered the novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary who had been her former teachers.
In her first year of teaching, Sister Marie-Jules was sent to Valleyfield Boarding School, which she knew well since it was in the neighboring municipality to where she grew up. The next year, she helped in the infirmary, then went back to teaching younger children, as well as directing the choir, for six years. Following that, Denise was named religion teacher at the high school level. For more than 30 years, she joyfully witnessed to her faith through her simplicity and enthusiasm towards the youth at St-Nom-de-Marie and Marie-Rose Schools in Montreal and then at Notre-Dame de Lourdes High School in Longueuil. She concluded her ministry of education by teaching French to immigrants at the Centre d’alphabetisation of the Sisters of St. Anne in Montreal (CASA), for almost 20 years. On learning of her death, one of her former CASA students, who is now a priest, said this about her:
“You had a great passion for teaching and even more so for your students of various cultures other than your own. Your respect, understanding, and sharing guided me through my ups and downs like a spiritual mother. You comforted me by listening to me with empathy and by your words full of wisdom. Thank you!”
Sister Denise was also involved in community service, committing herself to the Associates, to provincial and local leadership teams, as a companion to the sick, to housework, and to housekeeping. In the parish and in the school, she was a devoted member of various committees: election committees, choir, liturgy, vocations, faith education. She fulfilled her responsibilities with joy, respect for others, kindness and discretion. Langelier and Marie-Rose-Durocher Residences were particularly enriched by her presence during 17 and 26 years respectively.
Denise spent the last few years of her life in the infirmary where she received, with good humour and gratitude, the care that she needed. Her confidence in the protection of the Virgin Mary and her habit of being attentive to others, what she called her “means of encountering God,” surely prepared her well for celebrating the feast of the Ascension in heaven with all the heavenly choirs!