Sister Gilberte Trudeau

“Jesus, my strength and my glory.”

On December 8, 2024, Sister Gilberte Trudeau,

whose religious name was Sister Marie-de-Liesse,

went home to God.

Gilberte was 94 years old, with 70 years of religious profession.

She was the daughter of Lucien Trudeau and Aurore St-Pierre.     

The eldest of eight children, Sister Gilberte was born on July 22, 1930, and was baptized in Sainte-Cunégonde Parish in Montreal’s Saint-Henri district. Of the many siblings, only she and two brothers would reach adulthood. A few years after her birth, Gilberte’s parents moved to the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood. There she attended Baril School and Stadacona School run by SNJM Sisters and it was there that she developed her desire to devote her life to education.

Gilberte continued her education at École Normale Jacques-Cartier (Teachers’ College), run by the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame, then at the Université de Montréal. After completing her studies, she entered the SNJM novitiate in Outremont on July 24, 1952. She pronounced her first vows on August 22, 1954.

A high school teacher for seventeen years, Gilberte continued her career as a principal for fifteen years, first at Mont Jésus-Marie and then at Saint-Lambert Boarding School. She then became involved in community service as a provincial councillor and local animator. She was also a member of numerous committees. Gilberte stands out for her organizational skills, her warm and welcoming personality, and her generous availability.