Sister Thérèse Martin
“Each morning He wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. “(Is 50, 4).
May 14, 2013, Sister Thérèse Martin,
in religion Lise-Marie Marie
went home to God.
She was 86 years old and had been professed for 64 years.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, she was the 2nd of 5 children
of Georges Martin and Clara Lecompte.
Thérèse was baptized and grew up in the Parish of the Holy Name of Jesus where the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary taught. She attended school there and also learned music. Her mother, an excellent pianist, contributed to the family’s income through her musical talent. Since the family lived close to the church, the children went to Mass every morning.
When she completed her bilingual commercial studies, Thérèse worked as an office clerk, but her religious vocation had been taking root for a long time. The following year, when she was 19 years old, she entered the SNJM Novitiate.
Sister Lise-Marie’s teaching career was dedicated to teaching piano and organ for thirty years in our Boarding Schools in l’Épiphanie, Ormstown, St-Hilaire, Viauville, Mont-Royal and Longueuil.
During the 1970’s, Sister Thérèse discovered the Charismatic Renewal Movement, and became an enthusiastic participant in it. “I learned how to pray there.”
Following a year of study and another year at St-Jean-Baptiste, Manitoba, she came to Beloeil to take charge of the Maison de la Bible, an apostolate which she particularly cherished. “The Word of God is the daily bread which has always sustained me.” Sister Thérèse was the author of a cassette: “Les chanteurs de la Parole”, based on eight Scripture passages.
At the age of 65, Sister Thérèse returned to Montreal. For 9 years, she shared community life with the Sisters at Résidence Édouard-Montpetit and coordinated the musical activities at the Montreal Convalescent Hospital. Her last active years were spent at the Motherhouse in Outremont and at the convent in Boucherville where she continued her volunteer work, mainly with the sick or elderly. Occasionally, Sister Thérèse still played piano during the liturgy.
When her physical and mental health had diminished to the point where she needed special care, Sister Thérèse was welcomed into Maison Jésus-Marie in Longueuil. Since the “Word of God awoke her each morning”, Thérèse wrote, “The Lord was always truly present in my life, and that was proof enough for me of the Resurrection”. It was with this faith that she entered into eternal life.