Sr. Marie Cecilia Benoit

SISTER MARIE BENOIT Of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada entered into her eternal life at Mount St. Joseph, Peterborough ON, on March 29, 2022. Marie Cecilia was born in 1929, in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. She was the daughter of the late Baptiste Leon Benoit and his wife Meda Delia Cote. Marie entered the Sisters of St. Joseph Community in Peterborough in 1948 and received the religious name of Sister St. Philip.

She is predeceased by her brother Arthur (Norah).

She is lovingly remembered and will be missed by the members of her CSJ religious community, her family and many nieces and nephews.

Sister began her ministry of education in Campbellford, Ontario. After two years she moved to Edmonton, Alberta, teaching at Our Lady of Fatima and St. Paul’s Schools. In 1959, she moved to Wainwright, Alberta where she remained for six years. She moved to Clandonald, Alberta in 1965 and when the Public and Separate Schools amalgamated, became Vice-principal. She returned briefly to Edmonton to complete her Bachelor of Education, returning to Clandonald for two further years.

Sister Marie moved to St. John’s Convent in Edmonton in 1974 where she taught special education students, for 10 years. She formally retired from teaching in 1986. It was during her time in Edmonton that she began to prepare for becoming a spiritual director and pastoral care worker. In 1988 Sister Marie returned to Wainwright and worked as a library assistant for 11 years. While in Wainwright she also spent two days a week working in the office of Sister Dorothy Ryan in Lloydminster.

Sister Marie, along with Sisters Stephanie and Mary Ludwig began the Emmaus Associate Community in Wainwright and the Galilee Associates Community in Edmonton.

Sister Marie returned east to Peterborough in 2007 and served as the Congregation’s General Secretary for four years. In 2011 she returned to her retreat ministry accompanying retreatants in the Spiritual Exercises. At the time of her death, she was serving as sacristan at Mount St. Joseph. Sister Marie will be remembered for her welcoming ways and kind presence.

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday April 5, at 10:00 a.m. at Mount St. Joseph Chapel, Peterborough, Ontario. This will be followed by interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Peterborough.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Sister Marie Benoit can be made at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/49627/donation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.comstockkaye.com.