PORTLAND – Sister Elizabeth A. Desjardins, RSM, 60, a woman dedicated to the Native American peoples died Sept. 20, 2005 surrounded by her religious and natural families. Sister, a native of Westbrook, attended St. Hyacinth Elementary School and Westbook High, Class of 1963. She entered the Sisters of Mercy from the former St. Hyacinth’s Parish, Westbrook. She had a deep love for the rootedness of the Native Americans’ sense of culture with its respect for all created life. She once wrote” One must seek and nurture the ‘wholeness’ of one’s spirituality and to walk hand-in-hand with the Native People in the church.” She lived this fully by being a member of the International Kateri Tekakwitha Conference. Sister graduated from St. Joseph’s College, Standish with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education. She furthered her studies by continuing her expertise in the field of education with emphasis on culturally based teaching and learning styles at Colorado School of Mines, University of Kansas, University of Maine, Machias, and the State of Maine Department of Education and Cultural Services. Sister Elizabeth served as an elementary school teacher in Benedicta, St. Joseph’s, Lewiston, St. Mary’s, Augusta, St. Mary’s, Bangor as well as on Andros Island, Bahamas. Her commitment to the Native Americans began by serving at Dana Point, Indian Township with the Passamaquoddy Tribe before serving 18 years among the Penobscot Nation at Indian Island, Old Town. Sister served as a teacher, education technician, and in their after school sports programs. She served her faith community through her involvement in pastoral ministry at St. Anne’s, Indian Island. She was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation, signed by the Chief of the Penobscot Nation stating their gratitude for her lifelong service to the members of the Penobscot Nation. She was an accomplished musician, playing both the guitar and the trumpet as a member of her Parish Choir, the Skyliners and Brewer Home Town Band. Sister was predeceased by her parents, Walter L. and Cecile E. Cyr Desjardins, originally from St. David and Madawaska. She is survived by her siblings, Walter, of South Windham, Philip, of Gorham, Jacqueline Desjardins, of New Orleans, La., Patricia Desjardins, of Westbrook and Vema Stultz, Estacada, Ore.; devoted in-laws, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and her Sisters in Community. Visiting hours will be held 2-4 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 at St. Joseph’s Convent, 605 Stevens Ave., Portland, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue 2-4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 4:30 p.m. at the Chapel at St Joseph’s Convent. Burial will be in New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Memorial gifts may be made to the Retirement Fund for the Sisters of Mercy, 605 Stevens Ave. Portland, ME 04103. Arrangements by Jones, Rich, and Hutchins Funeral Home, 99 Woodford St., Portland.
SISTER ELIZABETH A. DESJARDINS
