Sister Maryse Moisan

On March 23, 2025, at Maison Jésus-Marie in Longueuil,

Sister Maryse Moisan (sœur M.-Anne-de-la Présentation)

went home to God.

She was 94 years old, with 72 years as an SNJM religious sister.

Maryse, the daughter of Théofred-Aldéric Moisan and of Marie-Ange Gagné, was born on April 15, 1930 in Montreal. She was the fifth of six children. She grew up in Outremont, in a family of musicians: her father played the violin, and every child played an instrument. With her strong musical heritage, Maryse obtained her bachelor’s degree in music education at Vincent-d’Indy Music School, which would later become the faculty of music of the University of Montreal.

On July 24, 1950, Maryse entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) whose members had greatly participated in her education. She exercised her long career as a piano and violin music teacher in many institutions: Marie-Rose Boarding School (Montréal), Saint-Lambert Convent, Eulalie Durocher Teachers’ College, Vincent-d’Indy and College Durocher in St. Lambert. It was in the latter that, in 1984, she became director of student life and of the music department, while continuing to teach part time.

According to a former student, Maryse “was very devoted to her students, generous with her time, encouraging, patient, a compassionate listener, a lover of life and often funny. She made learning music totally enjoyable.”

A very active and devoted woman, Maryse had many skills at her disposal. She shared her many talents in her religious community and in the cultural and humanitarian societies of Saint Lambert and Longueuil. Her organizational and leadership skills, along with her training in Arts and Recreation and her concern for seniors and the sick were precious assets that drew her close to and appreciated by others.

She was the recipient of many prizes and prestigious awards, such as the Mitchel Trophy, in 1962, for highest marks in the Saint-Lambert Music Festival and the Simone Monet-Chartrand Prize for her contribution towards “establishing intergenerational communication”.

Equally notable were Maryse’s great contributions as director of the Longueuil Arc-en-Ciel Chorale and as organizer for the Sunday afternoon concerts in the chapel of Maison Jésus-Marie. It was her way, even after retirement, of expressing her passion for music by enlisting former music students and other reputable artists from the musical world.

Happiness, Life, Death, God…

All is Music. (Jacques Attali)