Obituary of Sister Alice Vandendriessche

SISTER ALICE VANDENDRIESSCHE Sister Alice, slipped gently into eternity on Friday, November 23, 2012 at Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home. Born in Weyburn on June 24, 1913, Sister was predeceased by her parents, Edmond and Odille (DeBruyne) Vandendriessche; by her sisters, Susan McBride, Marguerite Dodds, Marie Heimlick; and her brother Joseph Edmond Vandane. She is survived by her sisters, Blanche Keating and Doris Vandendriessche; many nieces and nephews, including Bonnie (Terry) Field; grand and great-grand nieces and nephews; and her cousin, Rev. Arthur Vandendriessche. Alice attended school in Weyburn and in 1933 came to Regina to join the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions where she was given the name Sister Mary St. Jude. Sister taught for a total of forty-two years, fourteen in Manitoba Brandon, Ste. Rose du Lac and St. Eustache and twenty-eight in Regina at St. Marys School, Sacred Heart Academy and Miller Composite High School, all the while earning a B.A., University of Ottawa, a B.Ed., University of Manitoba and certificates in a number of specialized areas. Sister was a consummate and much-admired teacher, knowledgeable, articulate, enthusiastic and encouraging. In later years, after the usual run of teaching any and every subject, Alice specialized in home economics, teaching her students all the best secrets of sewing, cooking and home making. Sister was devoted to her family and delighted in visiting them, both to enjoy the fruits of British Columbia and the challenges of the life of Saskatchewan farm and field. After retiring from teaching, Sister lived in turn in Winnipeg, Lebret and Regina leaving everywhere verdant gardens and happy memories. In 2001 she moved to the Sisters Residence at Santa Maria, from which she graduated? into nursing care in 2008. The Vandendriessche family and Alices Sisters in religion are most grateful for the gracious and loving care she received in these last seven years. Prayer Service will be held at Santa Maria, 4215 Regina Avenue, Regina, SK on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Kenneth Miller at Santa Maria on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Interment to follow in Riverside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to send a donation to the Mission Fund of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission, 310 Provencher Blvd., Winnipeg, MB, R2H 0G7. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com