Sr. Clairette Marie Grondin

May 24, 1930 - December 29, 2019

Sr. Clairette Grondin Gueydan: This powerhouse of love entered into eternal peace and joy on Dec. 29, 2019. Shy, quiet and simple, Sr. Clairette touched thousands of lives, both children and adults. Born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada, May 24, 1930, she was one of fourteen. Her family moved to Maniwaki, Quebec, the following July where she lived until 1948. Educated by the Sisters of Charity, then known as the Grey Nuns of the Cross, she entered this same community on August 2, 1948, making first vows on July 15, 1950. She attended college, receiving her degree in education from Rivier College, Nashua, New Hampshire. After the grace of her religious vocation, she always felt blessed to be teaching the little ones and guiding their spiritual life. During her 49 years in education, she served not only as an elementary teacher but also principal, bookkeeper, secretary, and religion administrator, usually serving several of these at the same time. Having left the Sisters of Charity in 1979, she along with two other sisters in 1982 founded a new religious community, the Sisters of Emmanuel, with the approval and direction of Bishop Gerard Frey and his successors in both the Lafayette and, later, Lake Charles dioceses. Such was her unwavering faith and clear vision of living the gospel for the 20th and 21st centuries. Her kind and simple way of relating to those she met inspired many to stay faithful and thrive during turbulent times. Her fellow sisters both in the north and south looked up to this diminutive nun, receiving hope and acceptance of God's plan for their life. God's love for her, and hers for God, kept her strong despite opposition, loss, and times of spiritual dryness. She served in Ogdensburg, New York, Lowell and Haverhill, Massachusetts, Lafayette and Gueydan, Louisiana. She always considered Gueydan her "home," stating that they were "the best people I've ever known." Most of her years were spent in Louisiana, serving there from 1961-67, returning in 1973 until her retirement in 1997. She continued serving as a CCD teacher, sacristan, spiritual director, as well as teaching knitting, crocheting, and tatting. She faithfully brought Holy Communion to the residents of Gueydan Memorial Guest Home. In 2014 she chose to join these residents to live out the remainder of her life of loving service. Surviving relatives are her sister Carmelle Hebert, in Ontario, Canada, and brothers Ulysse (Rose-Marie) in Maniwaki, Quebec, and Marcel (Moema) in Brazil. She had many nieces, nephews and friends. One of her nieces is Sr. Claudette, a Sister of Charity of Ottawa. She is also survived by her two community members, Sr. Catherine Leroux, S.E., and Sr. Claire Pellerin, S.E, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Ten siblings who predeceased her are: Fernande (Sr. Rita), Rheal, Gerard, Lionel, Jean, Leo-Paul, Ubald, Marie Reine, Rita and O'Neal. Visitation will be at Matthews and Son Funeral Home in Gueydan on Thursday, January 2, 4:00-8:00 pm with a wake service at 6:00 pm and visitation to continue in Church on Friday from 9:30 am until Mass at 11:30 at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Gueydan with Father Mitchell Guidry and Father Corey Campeaux officiating. Internment will following at the Gueydan cemetery. In lieu of flowers please give to the charity of your choice. Suggestions: Gueydan Memorial Guest Home (GMGH) and/or Hospice of Acadiana and/or the Alzheimer's Association. We would like to thank GMGH and Hospice of Acadiana for their tireless and loving care for Sister Clairette.