Sr. Françoise Carignan
May 5, 1921 – January 31, 2011
Sister Françoise Carignan (Sr. Anna-Josèphe) died peacefully at Taché Centre, St. Boniface, Manitoba on January 31, 2011. Sister was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Gaston and Louis and her sisters Claire (Roland) Gauthier), Madeleine (Jean-Emile Villeneuve), Thérèse, s.p. and brother-in-law Bill. She is survived by her sisters Gabrielle Abraham, Maria, snjm, Alice, her brother Jean and her sister-in-law, Norma.
Françoise, the sixth child of a family of ten, was born to Marie-Anne Lacourse and Joseph Carignan on May 5, 1921 in St-Claude, Manitoba. At an early age, Françoise learned to share with her brothers and her sisters. She considered herself fortunate in attending two bilingual schools, Sacré Coeur and St. Joseph’s Academy. In 1939, after completing a second Year of University courses at Collège St-Joseph, Françoise followed in her educators’ footsteps and entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in Outremont, Québec. She professed her vows on August 21, 1941.
Upon her return to Manitoba in 1941, Sister Anna-Josèphe was assigned to teach in St. Agathe High School. This task confirmed her taste for teaching and for the many years that followed, Sister spent her time studying and teaching. She pursued studies for a B.A. the University of Manitoba. Sister obtained a B.Ed. from the University of Manitoba and a M.A. from the University of Montreal. From 1948 to 1959, Sister Anna-Josèphe taught at École du Sacré Coeur and at St. Joseph’s Academy. Then, until 1973, she was teaching principal in St. Pierre Collegiate and Somerset Collegiate. She also taught at High School students at Collège St-Boniface for a few months.
Throughout her life, Sister Françoise shared her gifts and talents generously. As a person who was fluent in both French and English, Sister was fortunate to be employed by the federal Translation Bureau in Winnipeg from 1974 to 1980. The following nineteen years, Sister Anna-Josèphe worked as treasurer for the Sisters of the Manitoba province and at St. Joseph’s Academy. She shared her talents as a translator at our congregational meetings. Sister was also called upon to compose texts, revise some, translate others and write letters for some of her elderly sisters.
Sister’s leisurely activities were numerous. She was an avid reader, loved the outdoors and spent much time snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and swimming in the cold Winnipeg Lake water.
When her strength diminishd, Sister Françoise moved to the supportive housing wing of the Despins Résidence. After being hospitalized at St. Boniface Hospital, she spent some time at Centre Taché where she died.