Sister Mary Frederica Jacques

Baptized Lumina Anna, born 1 January 1865 in Sorel, Québec
Died: 29 October 1935, St. Mary Hospital, Marquette, Michigan
Buried:  Holy Cross Cemetery, Marquette, Michigan, in the Sisters of St. Joseph plot. (See obituary page on this site for her obituary and photo of her tombstone.)

Entered: July 1, 1882, St. Louis, Missouri from Hancock-Houghton, Michigan

Reception:  October 15, 1882, St. Louis, Missouri

Vows:  October 15, 1884, St. Louis, Missouri - First vows were final

Missions:    Sister Mary Frederica Jacques

Necrology from Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Sister Mary Frederica Jacques died at St. Mary's Hospital, Marquette, Michigan, on the twenty-ninth day of October, nineteen hundred thirty-five, in the seventy-first year of her age and the fifty-third of her religious life.

She was noted for her fidelity to Holy Rule and her eagerness to have the same observed in her Sisters.  In her last conference which was given the Sunday before the Feast of Christ, the King, she chose as her subject "Happiness in the Community" dwelling particularly upon the great truth that our happiness in the Community now, as well as our eternal happiness hereafter, is in proportion to the generosity of our sacrifice; and sacrifice means for the religious exactitude to Rule and Custom.

For many years, Sister was missioned at Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Louis, where she successfully taught music and in the same profession carried on classes in St. Teresa's Academy, Kansas City, Missouri, and at Hannibal, Missouri.  She was most proficient in her line of work and was recognized by every one for her ability as a musician.  This talent she gave whole heartedly to God.  Sister served the Community most faithfully also as superior at Our Lady of Good Counsel Convent, St. Louis; St. Mary's Academy, Los Angeles, California; The Academy of Our Lady, Peoria, Illinois; and St. Joseph's Convent, Marquette, Michigan.

On Monday morning, the day previous to her death, Sister was suffering from what seemed to be an attack of indigestion.  She was urged in vain to remain home from the eight o'clock Mass as she had assisted at six o'clock Mass in the convent.  After Mass she went to school where she remained until noon.  Due to the severity of her suffering she was unable to return to school in the afternoon, and a physician being called, it was found Sister's case was serious.  The following morning about eight o'clock she was taken to the hospital.  A few hours later she was anointed and received Holy Viaticum with great fervor, inviting Our Lord with sweet aspirations to come to her.

Everything possible was done for Sister but she gradually grew more exhausted.  At one thirty in the afternoon all the Sisters were called from school to her bedside.  She was privileged to have several priests here also, to offer up the beautiful prayers of the Church for the dying which she answered to the very last, and she repeatedly kissed the crucifix.  At two thirty she yielded her soul into the Hands of her God, armed with all the consolations that our Holy Mother Church affords to her faithful children.  We indeed can say, "Blessed are they that die in the Lord."

May she rest in peace!