Obituary of Sister Yvonne TOUCANNE

September 17, 1910 – October 9, 2011 Sister Yvonne was born in Paris France on Sept 17, 1910. Her family moved to California in 1913 then to Saskatchewan in 1918 where Yvonne first met the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis. She received her education in the Sisters’ boarding schools in Radville and Medicine Hat and later joined the Sisters in Levis, Quebec. She made her profession as a Sister of Charity of St. Louis, in Levis, Quebec in 1931 and thus, recently celebrated eighty years as a Sister. Since then, Sister Yvonne’s life has been a rich tapestry of challenges faced and met, of personal growth and empowerment that has left its mark on communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and around the world. She has served in the field of education in Medicine Hat in Alberta and in Saskatchewan in the towns of Melville, Marquis, Wilcox, Regina and Moose Jaw. Sister Yvonne received a wide and varied education and has received degrees in the Arts, Education, Science and the Library Sciences. She also developed a keen interest in the developing world and eventually went to Tanzania and then Botswana in Africa to assist in teacher education and in the establishment of libraries. Over the years she deepened her knowledge and understanding of oppression and injustice and realized that the greatest suffering was usually experienced by women and children. Thus, at the age of seventy-five, in 1988, Yvonne undertook another project, the founding of Sofia House in Regina – a second stage housing for women and children who were victims of violence. Sofia House continues on today. Sr. Yvonne finally retired and moved to St. John’s Senior Care Home in Calgary in 2002 and most recently became a resident of the Bethany Care Centre. Sr. Yvonne has received awards and accolades for her work including the Saskatchewan Lt Governor’s Award, the Golden Jubilee Medal, in 2002, and the Women of the Year Award from the Soroptimist International of Regina. The words of this award sum up her life work “to improve the conditions of women and children and the disadvantaged where ever the need arises, be it in our own milieu or in distant lands such as Africa.” She clearly heard the words of the Gospel: “whatsoever you do to the least of my people that you do unto me.” Yvonne will be lovingly remembered by the members of her religious community, her students, by those she has ministered to and with, and by the many she has befriended over the years. She was predeceased by her parents and brother Maurice and is survived by her cousin, Daniel Toucanne, of France. We are grateful to the Bethany Care Centre for the personal and spiritual care given to Yvonne during this past year. In living memory of Yvonne Toucanne, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.