To view the service, please click here.
Sister Mary Smith of the Sisters Faithful Companions of Jesus died peacefully in Providence Centre, Edmonton, on November 12, 2022, at the age of 91.
Jacqueline was born in Calgary on January 23, 1931, her mother Hilda Olsen being from Saskatchewan and her father Gerald from England. Mrs. Smith died rather young, leaving behind four children: Pamela, Jacqueline, Ann and Eric. Gerald was a military man and thus away from home frequently. A neighbour suggested that he enrol the girls as borders in Sacred Heart Convent, Calgary. Observing the kindness of the FCJ sisters in the boarding school, Jacqueline was attracted to the Catholic faith, and she was baptized at St. Mary’s Cathedral in 1945. During those years, the Smith girls became friendly with the Benoit sisters, and soon they spent a number of holidays with Sr. Margaret Mary Benoit’s family.
Eventually, Jacqueline felt drawn to religious life, and she became an FCJ postulant in 1949. As Sister Mary, she pronounced her first vows in 1951 and then completed her Grade 12 in Calgary. After that, she was sent to University College Dublin, Ireland, where she earned a degree in mathematics, chemistry, and physics, following which she spent one year of further FCJ formation in Broadstairs, England. Then she attended Sedgley Park College, an FCJ teacher training institution in England.
Sr. Mary made final vows in Calgary in July of 1957, then moved to Toronto where she taught first grade for a year. She loved teaching little ones, so somewhat regretfully accepted her new missioning (1958) to the ministry of high school teaching (math, science, English, bookkeeping, typing, handicrafts) in Calgary. She was known to have good rapport with students. During those years in Calgary, she oversaw the junior and then senior boarders. Her great love for and sensitivity to the needs of young children was obvious throughout her life. When the boarding school became the FCJ Retreat Centre, Sr. Mary served as food manager.
By 1986 the FCJ Society was spreading into new areas for ministry. Sr. Mary was missioned to New Hazelton, BC, where she taught Preschool, in the Head Start Program, served as a parish assistant and member of the parish council, and in general supported the indigenous people of that area. She loved living in the naturally beautiful environment of the Rocky Mountains. In her own words: “A part of my heart is still there!” After these ten years, Sr. Mary benefitted from an FCJ Pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Foundress (Marie Madeleine d’Houët) in France and joined a sabbatical program in New Mexico, USA.
Sr. Mary moved to Edmonton in 1998, where she again involved herself in parish ministry, visiting shut-ins, sorting donated clothing for the Women’s Shelter, helping with food hampers, etc. She also continued to delight others with her beautiful knitting and crochet work, as well as delicious lemon pies and cookies. Her spirit of caring and sharing was always evident, as was her love of family and friends.
When her health declined significantly, she entered Providence Centre Infirmary in 2009. She was cared for with superb kindness and professionalism for 13 years. The nurses and aides honoured Sr. Mary’s lifelong love of music by having soft music playing in her room most of the time. May Sr. Mary now be enjoying heavenly melodies and deep joy.
A Prayer Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 21, 2022 at Providence Centre Catholic Chapel, 3005 – 119 Street NW in Edmonton.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. on November 22, 2022, at Providence Centre Catholic Chapel.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Sister Mary Jacqueline Smith FCJ 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta