Obituary of Sister Bertha Chartier

CHARTIER: Sister Bertha Chartier died on Monday, March 15, 2010 at Fairview Personal Care Home, Brandon. Born 27 August 1916, to Lionel and Rosine (née Alary) Chartier at St. Lazare, Manitoba and baptized Marie Bertha Beatrice, Sister Bertha was blessed with ten sisters and six brothers. Predeceased by her parents, her sisters Laetitia, (RNDM), Lucia (Eastveld), Bertha's twin, Yvonne (Dupont), Aurelienne (Haigh), Martine (Guay), Therese (Maki), Roma (Bishop) and her brothers Reginald, Edouard, Damien and Arthur. She is survived by sisters Marie-Ange (Watters) of Ottawa, Jeanette (Snyder) and Melina (Edmundson), both of Brandon, sister-in-law Clarice of St. Lazare and brothers Claude (Susie) and Omer (Annette) of St. Lazare as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other family members. Sister Bertha entered the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions 20 January, 1933 and shared her special gifts of love and joy in numerous places including Ste. Rose du Lac, St. Eustache, Elie, Letellier, Winnipeg and Brandon, Manitoba, Regina, SK, Fort Frances, ON and Jacques Chartier, Quebec. For many of these years, known then as sister Gabriel, she taught primary school and used her beautiful singing voice in choir work. A highlight in Sister Bertha's life was her being missioned to Peru in August 1976. She served in Peru for over 11 years and embraced the people with all her heart. She is fondly remembered to this day. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, 327-4th Street, on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Dominic Yuen as Celebrant. Interment will follow at the Brandon Cemetery. Should friends of Sister Bertha so desire, donations in her memory may be made to the missionary works of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in Peru at the RNDM Provincial Offices, 310 Provencher Blvd., Winnipeg, MB, R2H 0G7.