It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of
Sister Rita Barrieau who has taken her place beside her Lord. She
joins her parents, Léonard and Léonie; her older
sisters: Irène, Ethel and Florine; her younger brother,
Rufin; her beloved brothers and sisters-in-law: Eloi (Eva), Alfred
(Ethel), Aldéric (Aline), Paul-Émile
(Marguerite) and Maria (Rufin); her little niece, Murielle (Eloi and
Eva); and her grand-nephews: Matthew (Alfred and Ethel) and Jeffrey
(Rosaire). With them, in great love of her family, she will watch over
those left in mourning, her brothers and sisters: Father Yvon, Eva,
Cécile, Maria, Alfred, Rosa, Aline, Rhéa,
Marguerite, Rosaire and Marcel; her brother-in-law, Louis (Maria); her
sisters-in-law: Edna (Alfred), Muriel (Rosaire) and Susan (Marcel);
208 nephews and nieces; her loyal companions: Raymonde and Chantal; as
well as numerous cousins, friends and admirers from all over the
world.
A chapter finished, a page turned, a life well lived, rest
well deserved.
Born in Acadieville, Rita attended elementary school in her
native village and high school at the Notre-Dame-d’Acadie
College in Moncton. She received her religious training with the
Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur Sisters, thereafter, completing
studies at the Teacher Training College to teach successively at
Grande-Digue, Beresford and Notre-Dame-d’Acadie College,
between 1957 and 1966. Medical technician training in Saint John led
to work at the Stella-Maris Hospital laboratory in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent
from 1968 to 1972. In parallel, she completed studies for a Bachelor
of Arts at l’Université de Moncton in
1970.
After various group and hermitage experiences, Rita opened
her door to a troubled homeless woman in a small Moncton apartment in
1978; this led to her greatest work, the launching in 1979 of the
first homeless shelter in Moncton, Nazareth House. The marginalized
and needy were welcomed with hot meals, shelter for the night,
spiritual counselling and, eventually, a clothing store and a toy shop
at Christmas. Known as the Mother Teresa of Moncton, Rita adopted
fully the teachings of Jesus: what you do to the least of my brothers,
you do to me. She dedicated five years to Nazareth House before taking
sabbatical leave after ensuring the shelter remained in good hands.
Rita subsequently followed her calling to help the most vulnerable in
Haiti, where she remained from 1998 to 2001, before returning home for
health reasons. She joined the team at the Cenacle, a spiritual
healing centre in Cacouna (Québec) for 13 years before
moving closer to her elder sister, Irène, at the
congregation of the Sisters of Marie-de-l’Assomption in
Campbellton until she died. Sister Rita returned to Moncton in 2019
where she joyously welcomed the realization of her vision, the opening
of a new, larger building with attendant services for the homeless
served by Nazareth House in Moncton. She devoted numerous hours and
days as a volunteer, including through the pandemic, until health
issues no longer allowed her to do so shortly before her
death.
Visitation will take place at Frenette Funeral and Cremation
Centre, 88 Church Street, Moncton (858-1900) on Thursday September 22
from 7 to 9 pm and Friday September 23 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm only.
A celebration of life will be held at the
Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Cathedral, 226 St. George Street,
Moncton on Saturday September 24 at 10 am. The funeral mass will be
videotaped and the video will be available on her obituary at the end
of the day on www.frenettefuneralhome.com
where messages and donations can be made. Interment will be at Our
Lady of Calvary cemetery in Dieppe.
It is not time for tears. Rita left joyously to meet the Lord
she lovingly served throughout her life. Happy the faithful servant!
Her last thoughts were for the continuation of her work at Nazareth
House; a donation in her memory would be greatly appreciated at a UNI
bank branch, online at www.maisonnazareth.com,
and during visitation at the Frenette Funeral Centre.
1935 2022
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Sr Rita Barrieau 1935 2022..
Décès pour la Ville: Moncton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick