OBITUARY
Alma Lavell
November 1, 1928 – January 23, 2019
SISTER ALMA LAVELL, (SISTER PAULINE) CSJ
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada announces the death of our dear Sister Alma Lavell at Mount St. Joseph, Peterborough, on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. Alma was born in Mayo QC in 1928.
Sr. Alma is predeceased by her parents John and Esther (Burke) Lavell. She is survived by her sisters Lorene Farnand, Patricia Lavell, her brother Gregory Lavell, all in Quebec, as well as by her niece Pauline O’Dwyer, nephew John Farnand and many great nieces and nephews.
Sr. Alma is lovingly remembered by the members of her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada.
Alma taught in Quebec schools until at age 23, she entered the Peterborough Congregation in September of 1951. After receiving the Habit, she was known by the religious name of Sister Pauline until 1968 when she returned to her baptismal name. Sister Pauline’s assignments were to St. John’s School and then to St. Stephen’s at Old Chelsea, Quebec, followed by the newly formed St. Alphonsus School in Peterborough and later St. Andrew’s West High School.
Sister Alma was involved in the congregational ministry of Formation from 1968 – 1974 as Director of the Juniorate Program and later as Director of Formation in Cobourg.
In 1975, Sister Alma returned to the Mount and served the Congregation in various capacities as Assistant to the Local Leader, Formation Director and Assistant General on the Council. It was soon learned that Sister Alma was a Jill of all trades. In 1987, she worked and lived at Martha House in Regina, SK, in charge of Finance and Admissions. In August of 1990 Sister Alma was appointed General Treasurer of the Congregation; a position she held until 2006.
From 2006 to 2012 Sister Alma was a Retreat Minister at the Villa St. Joseph in Cobourg. In 2013 she returned to The Mount full time and continued her ministry of prayer.
As Sister Alma went about her daily work, an atmosphere of serenity surrounded her. Over the years, we learned to count on her gentle spirituality, far-seeing wisdom and good judgment. The words of Isaiah seem to fit well, an apt description of her life and works: “Those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will walk and not become weary.”
Visitation will be at Mount St. Joseph, 1555 Monaghan Road, on Sunday, January 27th, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, January 28th, 11:00 a.m. at Mount St. Joseph Chapel.
Interment at Highland Park Cemetery, Peterborough, will be at a later date.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Alma Lavell 2019..
Comstock-Kaye Life Celebration Centre
Death notice for the town of: peterborough, Province: Ontario