Sister Madeleine Poliquin

“Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” (Matt. 25, 6)

September 15, 2017, Sister Madeleine Poliquin,
in religion Marie-Aldophe 
went home to God. 

She was 98 years old and had been professed for 74 years. 
Born in Montreal, Quebec, she was the 6th of the 10 children 
of Adolphe Poliquin and Arthémise Rochon.

In Madeleine’s family there were five boys and five girls, including her twin who died in infancy. The children grew up in Montreal in Paroisse St-Louis-de-France. Their parents valued knowledge and education and made many sacrifices to provide advanced studies for all of their children: classical college and music. At home, daily family prayer and a living faith initiated the growth of seeds for vocations: five children chose to give their life to God, four Sisters and a Jesuit.

Madeleine attended Pensionnat Mont-Royal from Grades 1 to 11, then attained the 4th level in Arts and Sciences and completed her 9th grade in music. Because of this, she came to know the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, although she was also familiar with them because her two older sisters, Cecile and Teresa, were already Sisters in this Congregation.

“Already when I was very young, I was dreaming about taking the most clear-cut path, that of dedicating myself to the Lord for my entire life.  At the convent, I admired the devotion of the SNJM Sisters and their ability for teaching: both in the classroom and at the piano.” 

Madeleine was 22 years old when she entered the SNJM novitiate. “I was really happy in the novitiate, and I felt that I fitted in very well; joyfulness, prayer and work were my companions.”

Sister Marie-Adolphe pursued her career as a piano teacher in La Patrie, Côteau-Station, Maskinongé, Hochelaga and St-Lambert and assumed the position of director in these last two institutions. She taught for a total of 43 years. With her peaceful nature and her renowned competency, her companions and pupils were happy with her.

When she was 66, she moved to Résidence Ste-Émélie where, for 23 years, she would render community services: helping the bursar, seamstress, accompanying patients and as a receptionist. Sister Madeleine’s love of God was reflected in her everyday life: “A pleasant, sensitive and dedicated companion, she was always ready to be of service. She was a ray of sunshine, whose zest for life helped her to endure the physical suffering that she was experiencing.”

In 2008, Sr. Madeleine was welcomed to the infirmary in Longueuil. It was now her turn to be cared for. During the last two years, her sister, Marthe, SNJM, brought her the blessing of her daily presence. “Sister Madeleine carried within herself music that turned life into a dance.”