Here we are, abruptly gathered together by Sister Antoinette to accompany her on her return to the Father. Since 2010 those who came regularly to this Chapel saw her seated there on the right. Sr Antoinette did not pass unnoticed – one sometimes had to manoeuvre around her- and her participation in the Mass was loud and clear. Now that she is silent forever I find myself invited to speak on her behalf, to present her life to the Lord, a life entirely given to God and others. A life of PRAYER and SERVICE.

Antoinette was born 2 August 1927 in Saint Malo, as she was proud to tell us, in a Christian family, poor, no doubt, since she was put into service very young, probably as a maid of all work. She had two brothers, Fabrice, dead very young, whose photo Sr Antoinette kept religiously in her room. She was always very moved when she showed it to us.  All her love was then given to Michel who died in 2014, and to her sister-in-law, Michelle, who was unable to be here today on account of the distance, but who is very much with us in spirit.

Antoinette entered the Little Servants of Nazareth at the age of 34, having already lived a good life of work. I know that she also spent some time on the island of Jersey where she acquired some words of English. She was part of a prayer group, probably Marist, which is how she came to know some Marist Fathers and through them the Little Servants of Nazareth.

In 1963 she was professed at Bellerive and was then sent to the community at Mar Vivo. But she stayed only there for a few months apparently on account of poor health. She returned to Bellerive for 4 years and contributed to the work in many ways. From 1967-8 she worked at the bishop’s palace in Lyon, and returned again to Belllerive where she remained until 2000.

The many years she spent in Bellerive anchored her in her vocation of SERVANT through the many forms of service required in the retirement house run by the community. Her strength was well-known and appreciated. 

When the house was closed in 2000 Antoinette was sent, with two other sisters to the community in St Prix. There too she gave all she had to render service, notably in the park, following Sr Nicolas on the tractor, gathering up the cut grass. She could not hide her pleasure at feeling useful.

Ten years later when the house was closed Antoinette came to Bon Repos. Coming into the EPHAD required an adjustment, but the carers used their ingenuity to find things for her to do. How often would she say: I love to be of service. I am working. She would be peeling potatoes and meticulously folding up towels and serviettes to the very end of her life.

I think I can truly say that Antoinette was happy here in Bon Repos where she would gladly say that she was a Marist Sister, which she became in 1968 when the Little Servants of Nazareth fused with the Congregation of Marist Sisters. She had known how to make the transition without however losing her first vocation. Faithful to prayer and the Office, she prayed especially for priests.

All those who lived beside her here in Bon Repos over these last six years could add some aspect of her personality.   We will surely remember her great simplicity, her spontaneity, especially her great love of others, the personnel who took care of her, the residents and the sisters, especially her superiors.

Now she has gone into the house of the Father…She entered without warning us or knocking, just as she went into her superior’s office! We can guess her joy at finding so many others who had preceded her: members of her family, the Mothers who welcomed her at Bellerive whom she always venerated and so many sisters with whom she had lived.

We confide her now to the Blessed Virgin Mary who was her model since, like her, Antoinette never stopped saying: I am the servant of the Lord. 

Sister Marie-Thérèse Terra

Chapel of Bon Repos Friday 20 May 2016