“SISTER PAT”: Pat Grisé left us for her home in eternity on Sunday, June 13, 2010. Rest in peace, Pat!
PrayerCard (link to pdf) [Please right-click and select “Open Link in New Tab”
Card background: two trees on a small island in Georgian Bay. Painting donated for use by artist, Pat’s sister-in-law, Deb Grisé.
Obituary: Mary Patricia Grisé, “Sister Pat”, passed away suddenly on Sunday afternoon, June 13, 2010 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Born March 1, 1938 in Midland, Ontario, Pat was the daughter of the late Frederick Didace Grisé and Mary D’Aoust of Honey Harbour, Ontario. Pat grew up in a loving family in Honey Harbour, among the Georgian Bay Islands with the trees, rocks and water that she loved. She completed high school as a boarder at Loretto Abbey, Toronto, then joined the Loretto Sisters (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary) as a postulant the following year, while working on her B.A., continuing on to a Masters in Philosophy at the University of Toronto.
Pat gave a lifetime of service to God, teaching at Loretto Academy, Niagara Falls, Ontario, then at Loretto College School and Loretto Abbey in Toronto. Since 1975, together with Waltera Van Gennip, she faithfully served the aboriginal community. They taught at Pic Mobert First Nation, Ontario for two years, followed by five more years of providing pastoral care there. Her bond with the people of Mobert lasted throughout her lifetime, and her ties to the community deepened, extending to her former students’ grandchildren, with whom she actively shared on Facebook over the past year.
For the past twenty-seven years Pat and Waltera ministered in Prince Albert and at Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan. Pat was also a part-time chaplain at Pine Grove Correctional Centre for Women, Prince Albert, for eighteen years. With her quiet loving ways Pat made an impact on everyone she met.
In 1986, moving on from the Loretto Sisters after thirty years with them, Pat co-founded Kateri’s Companions in Ministry, a lay mission association for pastoral care among aboriginal people. Her work will be continued by her close friends and co-workers, Waltera van Gennip and Roy Wilmhoff.
Predeceased by her sister Judy (Michael Dubois), Pat is survived by her sisters Catherine Grisé (Cameron Tolton) and Mary Elizabeth Grisé (Glenn Craine) and brothers Fred Grisé (Shonnie), Michael Grisé (Donna), Peter Grisé (Jan), John Grisé (Mary) and Frank Grisé (Debbie), her niece and goddaughter Caroline Tolton Paterson, thirty other nephews and nieces, and an ever-growing number of great-nephews and nieces. Pat’s home in Prince Albert became a stepping stone for many of her nieces who visited her on their journeys into adulthood, finding in her presence unconditional love, acceptance and courage.
A wake will be held at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre (PAGC Gym) in Prince Albert on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with a service at 7:00 p.m. On Friday a wake will be held at Sturgeon Lake Community Centre at 4:00 p.m. with a service beginning at 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be at Sturgeon Lake Community Centre on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., Father Maurice Fiolleau officiating. Interment will be at the Far West Cemetery at Sturgeon Lake First Nation SK. A memorial service will be held in Toronto at a later date. In Pat’s memory charitable donations may be made to Kateri House.
