Margaret Mary Juneau
July 12, 1937 - July 21, 2005
Let us reflect on these past seventeen months with our Margaret -- Auntie Margaret - Margaret Mary, our Sister Mary Theophane. When she heard the dreaded diagnosis (pancreatic cancer) in February 2004, she was in shock and disbelief, and so were we. She seemed very sad, and so were we. We who cared for her and loved her began this painful journey with her.
We read in the Book of Wisdom, it seemed like "an affliction, and "utter destruction." The Scripture tells us that when God tries the souls of the like gold in the furnace and finds them worthy his grace and mercy abound with them (Wisdom 3).
We who lived with Sister wanted her to know that we were with her on this difficult journey. We didn’t know just how we could help; she didn't put her thoughts or feelings into words. In time we became more sensitive to her unspoken message and took our lead from her cues.
She seemed to appreciate when we would visit, and be with her, maybe just talk about little things, to help her realize that she was a part of our larger world that included more than her illness.
We know how generous Sister could be-- ever ready to sew up a seam, a hem, or a button, to fix a broken rosary, to have just the right bottle of glue for our need. Now was her turn to receive, and more and more she welcomed loving acts of kindness offered. Her sincere, quiet "Thank you" was often on her lips. It was gratifying to know that we were reaching her.
During all these months Sister was "like the sacrificial lamb." Never uttering a word of complaint, but accepting in faith, resignation, obedience what God was asking. And God did "take her to himself" day by day, filling her with "grace and mercy."
Even as her body declined, her joy increased. She acknowledged that her life was near the end and prayed aloud with us at her bedside. She would surprise us with gems of wisdom, or a witty word. She had a sense of humor to the end, which gave us all a lift.Her joy became contagious and our bonds among each other in family and in our local community were strengthened. We know God has heard our prayers. No, God did not cure her but he healed our Sister in mind and spirit. God used her as an instrument to bring us to deeper faith and love.
Now we celebrate the gift that Sister Mary Theophane has been as a Dominican, in our Congregation of St. Mary. As a novice Sister chose her name, Theophane, in honor of the Trinity. At final vows she received her gold ring in which she chose the inscription, "To the Father, with the Son, in the Holy Spirit." And recently when some of us went to widen our rings, Sister first made sure that the inscription would be restored. She was steadfast in her prayer life all these years-- truly valuing attendance at the Eucharist, and faithful to praying the Divine Office.
The fruits of contemplation were evident in her ministry. The love with which she taught the children, hours of silent work in the library at the college, and then at Notre Dame Seminary, dedication to the sick in her family and in the community. When one sister was in a coma in s hospital across the river, Sister Theophane-- then coordinator of the motherhouse-- took the long bus ride back and forth to sit with her.
The hallmark ministry of her life began in childhood. She spoke of the many hours she and her sister Mary Margaret spent with their mother and aunt and their cousin Katherine learning arts and crafts. With her gift of creative imagination Sister has produced countless artworks through the years. She blossomed in this ministry by teaching crafts to women in two small communities that formed around her: the dedicated women of the Motherhouse Guild and at Metairie Manor who looked forward to her coming weekly to work with them.
Recently we were talking at breakfast about a film we saw on St. Vincent de Paul. We were in awe of the heroic things he did to help the poor, and we were thinking, "I could never do that." Sister Theophane looked up from her plate and said quietly, "St. Therese said, we need to do the ordinary things well." It was the way she lived her life.
It was on this day, July, in 1937 that Margaret Mary's parents dedicated her to God through Baptism. Today her life of consecration and service has come full circle. Surely she is precious to the Lord. On this anniversary day of her Baptism we send our sister off with our love "to the Father, with the Son, in the Holy Spirit" for all eternity.
-- from the Eulogy, M. Carmelite Zibilich, OP
