52 Ancestors No. 15: Sister Madeline Demarse (G.S.I.C) (1928-2010)

This is the fifteenth of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.  

#52Ancestors asks genealogy bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”

No. 15 is about my 1st cousin 1x removed Sister Madeline Demarse who was a Grey Sister of the Immaculate Conception (G.S.I.C.), Pembroke, Ontario.

Sister Madeline Demarse

Sister Madeline was born on October 18th, 1927, in Windsor Ontario. Her mother, Mary Madeleine (Coughlin) Demarse, died suddenly in 1929  from cerebrospinal meningitis.

Source: Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) · 1 Jun 1931, Mon · Page 11

Following her mother's death, Madeline's Godparents Napoleon and Leda Demarse raised her from the age of two.

Source: Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) · 2 Sep 1964, Wed · Page 32

Her father Joseph Demarse died the 6th of February 1981.

She entered the religious Community on July 12th, 1950 at twenty-two years of age, pronouncing her final vows on August 24th, 1954.

Source: Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · 29 Aug 1953, Sat · Page 16

A music teacher by profession, she taught in Ottawa, Timmins, Eganville and Midland for many years. Other assignments involved bookkeeping and leadership positions as well as her primary ministry - teaching piano. Many former students will remember her competency, dedication and kindness.

Source: Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) · 17 Jun 1947, Tue · Page 14

Standing left to right: Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan and Viola (Coughlin) LeFaive
Sitting: Sister St. Paul of the Cross (Madeline Demarse)
(Taken in the living room of Viola (Coughlin) Lefaive)

 Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan and Viola (Coughlin) LeFaive, Sr. St. Paul of the Cross and Marguerite (Coughlin) Schofield.
(Taken in Viola (Coughlin) Lefaive's backyard)

Marguerite (Coughlin) Schofield, Viola  (Coughlin )Lefaive, Sr. St. Paul, Bessie  (Coughlin) Harrison and Rhea  (Coughlin) Moynahan
(Taken in front of Gretta Langlois' apartment in Brockville, Ontario 1958)

2007

In August 2007, a family reunion was organized in Pembroke to celebrate

 the life of Madeline Demarse.

Sister Madeline Demarse
(2007)

2010

Sister Paul of the Cross died in Shalom Residence on Sunday 16th day of May 2010 at 82 years of age. She was in her 60th year of her Religious Life.

Murphy Funeral Home