Obituary Notice
Back to Élisabeth Bruyère yesterday and today
SISTER MARIE-ANTOINETTE-WALBURGE RAIZENNE
in religion
SISTER RAIZENNE
June 12, 1914
Sister Marie-Antoinette-Walburge Raizenne was born in Rigaud, Quebec, the daughter of Charles-Clet Raizenne, notary, and Marie-Sophie Gauthier.
The chronicles of this family trace back to an Englishman named Josiah Rising, who lived with his parents in Deerfield, Massachusetts, around the year 1704. At the age of ten, he was kidnapped by the Natives and brought by them to Sault-au-Recollet.
Like him, a young girl, Abigail Nims, had also been kidnapped during the same attack by the Natives from the Sault. These two children were taught and baptized by the Sulpicians of Montreal, with the names Ignatius and Elisabeth. Later, they were united in marriage.
Their posterity would give priests and religious to the Church, and to society, as well as excellent citizens who settled in different parts of the country. As one can see, both the spelling and the pronunciation of the original name underwent some modifications.
Entering our Novitiate on October 7, 1854 at the age of 20 years, 7 months and 17 days, Sister Raizenne had the joy of making her religious profession on November 21, 1856.
Formed in solid virtue by her profoundly Christian parents, whose virtue could not but be reflected in the hearts of their children, our dear Sister Raizenne knew from the day she entered religious life how to appreciate the benefits of her vocation. She feared no sacrifice as she grew into the habit of a life of prayer and of piety, all the while giving of herself to the various works of the Institute.
The news that she was admitted to profession filled her heart with blessed joy and she undertook her solemn commitment with sentiments of total self-gift. Already our dear sister gave an indication of who she would be in the future, that is, a generous soul in God’s service.
The needy and the sick were the object of her first assignment in Ottawa. Then in October, 1857, she left with Sister Saint Pierre to found our first mission in the United States, in the city of Buffalo. In order to respond to the wishes of Rev. Father Chevalier, O.M.I., pastor of Holy Angels Parish, they were to take on the education of children along with home visits to the needy and the sick. Sister Raizenne, for six years, shared the sacrifices and work inherent to any foundation. It was the same at Our Lady of Victory in Ogdensburg where she found herself in 1863 and 1864. She then returned to the mother house to continue this beloved work among the needy of that city.
Gaining more and more the esteem of her superiors who saw her ever faithful and ardent in fulfilling all the tasks of her state, she was judged able to undertake a sacrifice until then unknown in our congregation. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, settled permanently in Fort Temiscamingue, pleaded with our superiors to found a residence there which would support the work they had undertaken. In the fall of 1866, they accepted this challenge and our Sister Raizenne, along with Sister Saint Vincent as her helper, was designated as foundress of this new mission. One needed much courage to venture thus into the unknown, so far from the cradle of the community; but Sister Raizenne was equal to the challenge. In re-reading the farewell that our dear Sister offered to our beloved Mother Bruyère, one can easily understand to what heights the soul of this missionary had been called: (note: the French text rhymes in couplets. The English translation cannot capture that rhythm.)
Oh! Allow me, dear Mother, to describe in just two words
What, once far from you, I would not be able to write.
Alas! How can one speak of these moments of farewell!
Moving away from a mother, leaving this place
Which was the cradle of my new life.
Leaving my sisters … O Jesus! O Mary!This sacrifice is great! But, heaven has spoken:
“Go,” we have been told, “the way has been laid out.
Go, give of your care to these poor natives
Spread everywhere on these distant shores.
Remember the gifts you have received
From the excessively loving Heart of the good Jesus.
He it is who now speaks to you, listen to his voice.
Go, do not delay, it is not your choice,
But His will. Go, make known
The gentleness of his law, and the magnificence of his being.”O Jesus, my love, it is enough, I obey.
Your holy will I will bless forever.
Farewell, dear mother, farewell, beloved sisters.
I will never forget my years of happiness.
Leaving on October 2nd , the feast of the Holy Angels, our travelers arrived on the 17th of that same month at Fort Temiscamingue. It took fifteen days of travel by canoe, by barge, by boat and by cart, without counting the use of one’s strong legs, to cover the three hundred mile distance which, at this time, offered very little security.
If the road had been difficult and dangerous, life in that part of the country was not any easier.
Maintaining two communities in two different houses, the Oblates and our own, seeing to the housekeeping and to the cooking, caring for the chapel, the Mass linens and the clothing of four traveling missionaries, all of this only constituted the daily fare. Both food and clothing were not easily accessible which, added to the rest, gave an idea of the suffering and self-denial that were inherent in this foundation.
Aspiring for a high level of perfection and being constantly united in her heart to a God of the poor, to a crucified spouse, our dear Sister Raizenne was not crushed by these difficulties that kept recurring. She opened an orphanage for the little native boys and girls, and not a year had elapsed, than she began teaching the poor Children of the Forest, attracting them gently to the “Woman of Prayer”, as the Natives always referred to women religious. The good sister also cared for the ills of both the old and the young. For a radius of 100 miles, her reputation as a healer of all ills brought her all forms of suffering. In spite of herself, she became doctor, surgeon and nurse.
Free schooling and free care for the orphans did not help in providing food, and whatever fees the lumberjacks paid to the hospital when they were cared for did not suffice for the needs of the double mission. So, they had to cultivate the land. The sisters, along with the orphans took up all the farming chores, sowing, raking, harvesting the oats and the wheat, clearing the land once the brush had been cut. On heavy work days, rising was often at 2:00. Once their religious practices were accomplished, they ate breakfast, prepared the provisions for the day, and launched the canoes by 4 o’clock in order to cross the waterway toward the cleared lands. At night, they would return exhausted and chilled, but their heart was happier than if returning from a picnic.
Sister Raizenne also took up the task of hostess. Persons in transit who lodged at the Fathers’ house would always find a bit of space, a nice meal and almost always a bed; they could easily complete their religious duties as they contemplated these priests and sisters who preached as much or more by their deeds than by their words.
At Christmastime, the entire congregation was served a meal after Midnight Mass.
In spite of the added work and fatigue, holy joy abounded in the heart of the Grey Nun of the Cross and helpful as well as relaxing recreations came to offer some diversion. In the winter, the sled and snowshoes, in the springtime, maple sugar parties, in the summer, canoe rides and fishing, in the fall, gathering of wild fruits for jams. Finally, these are many of the legitimate activities over which our devoted Sister Raizenne presided for twenty-five years with unflinching energy.
Her prestige became that of a mother or even of a beloved and respected queen, and her demeanour always left traces of a virtue that could weather anything, of a supernatural spirit and of a soul that remained ever young and never depressed. Without a doubt, the small tabernacle lamp must have erased many a furrow on the brow of this saintly woman, for she never appeared crestfallen, discouraged, or tormented throughout the carefully kept pages of the chronicles she left behind. One can read precise and repeated enumerations of similar activities, moving reports of religious celebrations and conversions, picturesque descriptions, happy and tragic scenes, pathetic accounts that moved one to tears, in brief, the entire history of the mission and so many facts that help one to see the candid and pure soul of this dedicated missionary.
On November 17, 1887, Sister Raizenne and her companion Sister Saint Vincent said their farewell to Fort Temiscamingue which had been, for 21 years, the witness of their heroic life, and they traveled to what is now the place inhabited by our sisters at the Ville-Marie Hospital.
On Christmas Day of that same year, the humble but attractive chapel of that hospital was inaugurated. Both the singing and the music expressed the joy that was in each one’s heart. Rev. Father Fafard, O.M.I., in a moving sermon, commented the following words: “When King Solomon built the temple of God, he chose the stones for the structure and had them fashioned outside the city.” Among other things, he said that the sisters had to allow themselves to be fashioned and polished in this life so that the Divine Architect could place them among the chosen stones to build the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Oh! How Sister Raizenne was happy on that day, one of the most beautiful of her life, where the Spouse chose to favour her with His presence under her roof.
She was called back to the mother house in 1890 after a twenty-five year absence. In Rigaud, her dying mother wished to see her and earnestly requested her presence, but our holy rule did not allow such trips, and our dear sister had to resign herself to accept this sacrifice, even if her heart was broken. As she lovingly brought her lips to the chalice, she repeated with Jesus in the Garden of Olives, “My God, may your will be done and not mine.” What a beautiful gem for her already precious crown!
She never left the mother house after that and, for twenty-three years, she was the constant visitor, the faithful support and the consolation of those in need. How many were the sorrows she relieved, the tears she dried! In order to offer religious instruction to those who lacked it, she would sacrifice her recreations; she prepared them for their First Communion, would dress then appropriately for the circumstance, and would often obtain permission to celebrate the feast in the chapel so that the joy of that day could be complete. Her chosen friends were the destitute and the needy. She loved them and cherished them!
This kind sister was esteemed by everyone and had the trust of her superiors. She especially respected Mother E. Duhamel, her former student, now become superior general; she tenderly loved all of her sisters and was especially close to the youngest in the community.
No longer able to visit her suffering clients because of her physical weakness, she would question her visiting companions each evening and they would faithfully share their visits with her in order to soften her sacrifice.
On the night of June 11, 1914, good Sister Marie Elie, as was her habit, offered her help to Sister Raizenne, who said to her, “Come, my little sister, I have just bathed for my communion tomorrow; I have never felt so well. I will sleep well.”
At about 11 o’clock, kind Sister Jeanne, who slept next to her, brought her some broth. The patient was very grateful and said, “Now I will sleep well and I will be ready for my communion.” She fell asleep, but did not awaken. At five o’clock, as the bell rang the morning call to prayer, our dying sister was being awakened to the dawn of the eternal day.
The priest hastened to give her the last rites and by seven thirty of that same morning, the wise virgin was responding to the voice of the Spouse who was calling her to the banquet of the elect in the unity of all those desires which are realized in heaven.
“Oh! come, faithful servant, I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. Come into the glory that has been promised you.”
It was on a Friday, June 12, 1914, that our dear Sister Raizenne left us so as to bless and glorify the God she had so well served during her long religious career.
Known everywhere in Ottawa, she left a reputation of extraordinary holiness and all those who had seen her at work spoke of her virtues and her merits. Many friends came to kneel by her mortal remains to offer their tribute of respect, of gratitude and of prayers for the mother of the poor.
Sister Raizenne died at the age of 80 years, 3 months and 21 days, of which she had served the Lord in the community for 59 years, 8 months and 5 days.
She left a sister from her family, Sister Saint Jean l’Evangeliste.
In order to show that she does not forget her friends with God, we allow the sharing of the following fact. She used to often say to Sister Marie-Elie, who had been so kind to her in her later years. “My little sister, I promise you that if, one day, from heaven above, I can reward your kindness, I will do it gladly.”
R. I. P.
Taken and translated from: "Nécrologies des Soeur Grises de la Croix", Tome 2, 1910 à 1927, Mother House, Ottawa, 1933, p. 69 - 74
Back to Élisabeth Bruyère yesterday and today
Back to archives