Vauthier obituaries/memorials, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

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Name,  date of obit,  date submitted,  submitted for the USGenWeb Archives by:

Vauthier, Emily Geradine 
   (Sister Mary Christopher)   d. 22 Aug 1997    Mar, 2001    Don Johnson

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Memorial,  Emily Geraldine Vauthier (Sister Mary Christopher), Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted with permission of
Dorothy Dawes, O.P. -- dmdawes@accesscom.net
580 Broadway, New Orleans, LA 70118, 504-861-8155,
FAX 504-861-8718 or 865-8079
photos at http://www.dominican-sisters.net/stmarys/memoria/vauthier.htm


                                In Memory of
                        [Sr. M. Christopher Vauthier]
                              Dominican Sisters
                       Congregation of St. Mary
                              New Orleans

                      Emily Geraldine "Becky" Vauthier
                    September 18, 1922 - August 22, 1997

       Her college classmates, women of deep faith, rallied
       for Sr. M. Christopher's passing into eternal life
       as if it were graduation. Jeanne Elmer, Jane W. Frick,
       Georgiana F. Hebert, Doris B. Lamarque, Sr. M. Aloysius Ott,
       and others of her peer group remember "Becky" with real
       affection. These five recall happy days: "She never liked her
       name 'Emily.' The first day of college she changed it to
       'Becky.' People thought that was her real name, but she just
       made it up. She was bright, always original and she knew what
       she wanted."

       "She had no health problems then, but she was terrified of the
       cancer that claimed her father at age forty-four. Her mother
       went to work and spent herself to educate her only child."

       "Becky was the life of the party. She was a great story
       teller, exaggerating for effect, always knowing how to hold
       her audience. She would sing anywhere, anytime. Once we were
       playing bridge at Ruth Ott's in Gretna until quite late. We
       caught the ferry, went up to the top and started singing. When
       we reached the east bank, we decided to ride back across the
       river and sing some more. But it was the last trip of the
       night, and the ferry started back, not to return. We had to
       walk the plank! We were late getting home, and it was hard to
       explain to our parents."

       Becky was also loyal to friends from Our Lady Star of the Sea
       Elementary School and from Annunciation High School, where she
       enjoyed a fiftieth year reunion in 1991. From Annunciation she
       had acquired the secretarial skills which served her so well
       later, and she won a scholarship to St. Mary's Dominican
       College.

       Becky saved the picture of a handsome, blue-eyed sailor (ca
       1944) inscribed to "Dearest Becky, Sweetheart... Love you.
       Yours, B." The young man only married after Becky    
       entered the convent, and has since died. She had long
       had her eye on the convent, but felt the need to see her
       mother settled. Her mother, still relatively young, was able
       to fend for herself. Becky finally made the break after seven
       years teaching college biology. She celebrated her silver
       jubilee in 1979 with younger Sisters Waldia Warden and M.
       Andre' Quigley.

       Unfortunately she was never well after taking her vows in
       1954. She taught in high school and college, got her M.S. from
       Louisiana State (1964) and did some creditable research, but
       always with difficulty stemming from her poor health. Her love
       of music continued to bring her comfort; she was a great fan
       of classical opera. When she was still mobile enough, "Chris"
       became Eucharistic minister (1980) and volunteered (1982-83)
       as reader at the Radio for the Blind. Occasionally she led the
       singing at Mass in the motherhouse, even after she was
       otherwise disabled. She derived peace and consolation from the
       prayer meetings of the charismatic renewal. Her last year and
       a half were spent at Wynhoven Health Care Center.

       Sister Brenda Comeaux, M.S.C., administrator of Wynhoven,
       said: "She overcame the daily struggles of this transition
       period in her journey. She became involved in attending daily
       Mass in the chapel. She enjoyed listening to music and
       attended musicals scheduled in the facility. She looked
       forward to visits from community members and kept abreast of
       the sisters' health and community happenings. She remembered
       her sisters in prayer. She attended morning Mass at 10:45 on
       the day God called her. She is our benefactor in heaven."
       Sister Mary Veronica Miceli spoke eloquently of Chris at the
       funeral Mass, which was a real celebration of her life.