Gagnon, Beata

• Jeanne d'Arc Celine Gagnon
• Sister Beata Gagnon
• Sister Jeanne d'Arc Celine Gagnon
• Sister Jeanne D' Arc Gagnon

Beata (Jeanne d'Arc Celine) Gagnon was born in McGregor, Ontario on April 28, 1933, entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, Ontario July 2, 1952, received habit January 3, 1953, made profession of first vows on January 3, 1955 and final vows on January 3, 1958, died March 2, 2018 in London, Ontario and is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, London, Ontario.

Beata was the daughter of Clarice Meloche and Paul Gagnon, Sr. Her siblings were Joseph, Paul, Cezaire, Christine Soulliere, Richard, Angela Savard, Pauline Paquette, Michael, James, Mary Joan Seguin and Mary Anne Meloche.
Sister Beata obtained her R.N.A. certification in 1971. She also completed training at St. Paul's University, Ottawa, in pastoral care in 1980, and a course for parish pastoral ministers in Windsor, ON in 1990. In 1975, Sister Beata completed a course in driver education and obtained her school bus driver "G" license.

Sister Beata was a farm girl from her youth and never lost her feisty spirit and ethic of hard work. In her early ministry from 1953-1954, she cared for children at Fontbonne Hall in London, and later, from 1957-1958 at St. Joseph's Manor in Windsor. She also served as a homemaker at convents in London and Belle River, ON from 1954-1957. She provided support care at St. Peter's Seminary in London from 1958-1961. From 1961-1963, she worked in Kinkora, ON as a French teacher for grades 7 and 8, From 1963-1969, she again worked in the orphanages in London and Windsor.

In 1971, she trained as an R.N.A. and loved caring for the sick at St. Joseph's Hospital in Chatham, ON and in the infirmary at Mount St. Joseph from 1969-1975. From 1975-1977, she worked as a ward clerk at the hospital in Chatham, and then as an R.N.A. and pastoral care worker at St. Joseph's Hospital in London from 1977-1983.

Sister Beata served as a driver for the community in London from 1983-1989. and after this, until 1993, she carried out parish ministry in St. Clement Parish in McGregor, ON, and in St. Mary's Parish in Blenheim, ON beginning in 1999. Sister Beata was a generous and caring woman, eager to meet and share with others whenever possible. Totally committed to her faith, she was vocal in her expression of what she believed in, and in her fidelity to the Church's teachings, providing encouragement to others who were struggling. She loved her religious dress, and wore it with pride to her last weeks. Her friendly and welcoming manner endeared her to many, including staff and clients in St. Joseph's Hospice, members of the Intergenerational Choir, and people she met on the street and engaged in conversation and invited in for a tour or cup of tea. She loved to dance, and would joyfully move to the music whenever the opportunity presented itself.

London, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Belle River, Ontario
Kinkora, Ontario
Chatham, Ontario
McGregor, Ontario
Blenheim, Ontario

Caretaker
Health care
Homemaker
Parish ministry

Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Archives
Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada, Biography database.