† Sr. Rosalie (Catherine) COENEGRACHTS

Thérèse de Lisieux (Br 87)

 

 

     Sr Rosalie Coenegrachts was born in Riemst (Belgium) on the 13th November, 1913. She grew up in a large family of 8 children, 3 brothers and 4 sisters. Before entering the convent, she studied in our school “Regina Pacis” in Tongres. On the 8^th September, 1929 she began her postulancy in Tongres, and the novitiate on the 4^th August, 1930, pronouncing her temporary vows on the 12^th February, 1932 and her final vows on the 12^th February, 1935. She spent these three stages in Picpus, Paris.

 

    Throughout her long life, Sr. Rosalie did many things: Receiving people warmly, with the lady boarders, working with children and families with kidney problems, as well as being bursar and animator or cook. A lover of nature, she looked after the flowers in the garden. Even though fragile herself, she visited the elderly, infirm and lonely.

 

    Sr. Rosalie we will never forget your gentle smile, your humour, your ability to imitate people, your pearls of poetry and song. But above all we will remember you as a person who invited us to love, a person of prayer with a large and sensitive heart.

 

    The love you found in the Heart of the Lord during adoration, made you open to broken hearts. In your meeting with the Lord, you have drawn strength to be a warm hearted woman, happy, smiling and obliging. We remember you as a sister who was cheerful, loving, gentle, moderate, full of gratitude, lenient and generous.

 

    Many people knew you in Rome, (41 years), in Picpus (3 years) in Yvetôt (2 years), in Petit-Rechain (2 years) in Anvers (1 year), in Woluwé (12 years) and in the rest home in Vogelzang, Heverlee (16 years), and would say with us: “Now you are in the House of the Lord, that you have so long desired.” Good bye!