THERESE BRUNETTE

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(...continued) THERESE BRUNETTE, S.G.M. A good example is a silent teacher. Anonymous Thérèse Brunette, daughter of Albert Brunette and Marguerite Fontaine, was blessed with five sisters and seven brothers. Born in the quiet little town of St. Joseph, Manitoba on November 19, 1929, she was baptized and received the sacraments of Christian Initiation in the same community church. Very young, Thérèse showed signs of piety and loved to help her Mom with the household tasks, especially by taking care of her younger siblings. It's quite revealing to read in her autobiography how edified she was, "to hear my good mother helping my young brothers and sisters pronounce the sweet names of Jesus and Marie. Those were the first names they learned to stammer." She too learned these names and later taught them to her siblings. How moving to see a young girl of approximately ten years old, helping her younger brothers and sisters to learn about to love and to pray to God who so loved the children! While helping her mother, she was growing into a young girl and with somewhat a strong personality. She knew what she wanted. Just listen to this: "I was about two years old, if Mom slapped me and said don't do this', I would answer no' and beat my feet, indicating that I was not prepared to stop." But she added immediately: "Mom knew how to handle my whims... and today if I am a Grey Nun, I owe it to my Mom and Dad... they taught me by their example and edification." While still in infancy, little Thérèse was thinking about religious life. This inclination simmered while she studied under the direction of the Sisters of Notre-Dame-des Missions in St. Joseph. When writing about her experience with these Sisters she wrote: "... their witness of patience, kindness, and hospitality personified for me the One for whom they had left everything, and it influenced in me the growth of my calling to religious life." Later when she completed her high school in St. Norbert, she met the Grey Nuns. Not only did her desire grow to become a nun, she started to waver between the three religious communities she had been in contact with. During the year-end retreat she was struck by the passage in Luke; "Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?" (Luke 24:26) "... I thought, if God suffered so much, and suffers yet today, wouldn't it be the right thing for me to sacrifice myself and follow his example..." so she entered the Grey Nuns in St. Boniface on August 5, 1949 at the age of 20. In an evaluation, her formation director wrote: "She is a good worker, orderly, is particular even meticulous and constant. She has a high esteem for her vocation, is true to herself, fervent, faithful and quiet." Equipped with such enduring gifts and talents, and strengthened by the words of her spiritual director: A good example is a silent teacher, Sister Thérèse Brunette generously dedicated almost 40 years of life as a cook in the North West Territories. She herself wrote: "as a faithful daughter of Marguerite d'Youville, I will do my very best to accomplish the task of cook that has been assigned to me; to feed the best I can the poor of Jesus Christ." Back in Edmonton and later on to Manitoba, Sister Thérèse served as local leader, gardener where she contemplated, cuddled and admired the plants through to harvest time, then it was with joy and gratitude that she gathered the fruits of her labour. We will remember Sister Thérèse as a hard worker, a woman of prayer, of hospitality and a beautiful woman with a smiling disposition. Good bye, dear companion! We will miss your discreet presence, your silent teaching and your faithful friendship. Enjoy now the presence of the Beloved you have so faithfully loved and served. See you soon! After barely two years into retirement, Sister Thérèse went to sleep in the arms of her Beloved on January 19, 2014 at the age of 84. Funeral service will be held at Despins Residence, 151 Despins Street, Monday, January 27 at 1:30 p.m. presided by a half hour of prayers. Sister Thérèse was predeceased by her parents Albert and Marguerite, and four brothers: René, Paul, Léon and Maurice. Along with her religious family, the Grey Nuns, Sister Thérèse leaves to mourn her five sisters: Lucille and Agnès, Sisters of the Holy Family, Irène Dupuis, Lise (Réal) Sabourin, Yvette St. Gadard; her brothers Marcel (Mary), Henri (Joan), Denis (Shirley); and two sisters-in-law Jeannette and Lala May. The Brunette family and the Grey Nuns would like to thank most sincerely the staff at Actiontionmarguerite (Tache Centre) for their thoughtful care; and to all the persons who have played a role in Sister Thérèse's welfare. Sincere thanks also to Desjardins Funeral Home for their faithful and thoughtful service. DESJARDINS 233-4949 1-888-233-4949 www.desjardinsfuneralchapel.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 31, 1969