SISTER BERNADETTE FORTIER
1930 – 2017
FORTIER, Sister Bernadette (Thérèse-Agnès) of the Sisters of the Presentation, passed away on October 12th, 2017 at the age of 86 at Mont Saint Joseph Home in Prince Albert, Sask. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated from the Chapel of the Presentation of Mary at 1405 Bishop Pascal Place, Prince Albert, SK on Monday, October 16th, 2017at 11:00 am by the Most Reverend Albert Thevenot, M. Afr., Bishop of Prince Albert. Sister Bernadette leaves to mourn: members of her religious congregation ; one sister: Thérèse, Sister of the Presentation; one sister-in-law Alice (Blais) Fortier; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Sister was predeceased by her parents Pierre and Rose-Anna (née Paquette); Three sisters: Marie-Blanche, Aurore and Lorette six brothers: Gérard, Léo, Wilfrid, Roland, Henri-Paul and Roger; Four sisters-in-law: Marguerite (Voisin), Thérèse (Houde), Cécile (Ruel) and Gisèle (Bélair). Sister Bernadette was born on Dec.8th, 1930, in Debden, SK, the youngest one of eleven children. She was enrolled in the local country school until she completed her grade ten, then finished high school in Duck Lake, SK. In the summer of 1950, sister entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation and began her training in Quebec. She was an excellent primary teacher. For 30 years she taught and had a great impact on her students whom she loved dearly. She taught in Spiritwood, Vawn, Makwa and in Laurier, Manitoba. She also was Dean of Residence for five years at the Academy Presentation of Mary in Prince Albert. From 1992-1997 the community asked her to take the leadership of the province. Once again she was accepted and loved by the sisters where she in turn opened her heart and her listening ear. As her zeal of reaching out to the youth was still very ardent, she became a loving catechist to the youth of Holy Rosary Church in Winnipeg for eight years. The time came when health no longer allowed sister active pastoral ministry, but one could always sense the fire of God’s love and her ardour for His Kingdom very much alive! After many years of generous service, Sister Bernadette’s health was failing and she came to the Infirmary of the Sisters of the Presentation. On October 3, 2017, Sister Bernadette was transferred to Mont St. Joseph, where she received excellent and compassionate care. Sister Bernadette will be remembered for her kind and loving smile, her strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, her love for the sisters and her humble service to all whose life she touched. Internment to take place in the Sisters’ Section of South Hill Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of River Park Funeral Home, Carla Jesso, Funeral Director.