Sister Rita Thauvette
On April 17, 2026, at the Pierre Boucher Hospital in Longueuil,
Sister Rita Thauvette (Sister Marie-Wilfrid)
went home to God.
She was 95 years old and had celebrated 78 years of religious profession with the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM).
The third of the ten children of Wilfrid Thauvette and Dora Saint-Denis, Sister Rita lived a life marked by service, faithfulness, and generous dedication to her work. Quiet and devoted, she used her many talents for the well-being of her community throughout her religious life.
Family and Early Years
Rita was born on April 3, 1930, in Moose Creek, Ontario, into a francophone family where helping one another and taking responsibility were important values. From a very young age, she took part in daily household tasks and developed a strong sense of independence. Family ties were precious to her and she maintained a deep attachment to her loved ones throughout her life.
A Call to Religious Life
On July 24, 1947, Rita entered the postulate and, as a novice, she received the name Sister Marie-Wilfrid. With a natural talent for household tasks, particularly cooking, she quickly put her skills at the service of the community.
After completing her novitiate, she took on various responsibilities as a cook and refectorian in Saint Lambert and Viauville. She made her final vows in August 1954, confirming her desire to dedicate her life to God and to the SNJM mission.
A Life of Commitment and Faithful Service
Over the following decades, Sister Rita carefully carried out a wide variety of services, including cooking, caring for the sick, housekeeping, laundry, sacristy work, and creating handicrafts. Methodical and determined, she was known for her strong sense of duty and her readiness to serve wherever needed.
After serving in Windsor and Chicago, she returned to Quebec in 1960. There she served at Marie-Rose Boarding School before spending 17 years in Waterloo, where her warm welcome and dedication left a lasting impression.
After more than 45 years of active service, she pursued her commitment at the Motherhouse and later as sacristan at Sainte-Émilie Residence.
A Retirement Rooted in Prayer
After moving to Maison Jésus-Marie in 2017, Sister Rita lived a peaceful life centred on prayer, service, and a few favourite pastimes. Faithful to her convictions, she calmly accepted the changes of her era while remaining deeply rooted in the values that had guided her throughout her life.
Sister Rita is remembered as a faithful, discreet, and deeply devoted woman whose life was marked by service to others and trust in God.