Obituary of Sister DeSales Roth

Sister DeSales Roth At Ignatia Hall at Mt. St. Joseph, London, Ontario, on February 20, 2007 Sister DeSales Roth (Francisca Helena Roth) of the Community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Diocese of London in her 95th year and 76th year of religious life. Lovingly remembered by her sisters, Elizabeth Mooney, Magdeline Stone, Helen Rioux, Rosemary Paetz and her brother Raphael of Alberta and her many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents Bernard Roth and Helena Philomine Huhn, her sisters Justine Donnelly, Frances and Catherine, her brothers Joseph, George, Jacob, Andrew and Bernard. Francisca Helena Roth received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph August 27, 1929 at Sacred Heart Convent, Edmonton and received her religious name, Sister DeSales. Following her novitiate she worked in dietary and housekeeping departments in our hospital in Killam, Alberta and convents in Edmonton and St. Brides. From 1960 to 1975 Sister DeSales taught kindergarten at the Regional House, Edmonton and was engaged in scripture groups and choir work at St. Theresa's Parish, Kelowna from 1977 to 1983. Her retirement years found her visiting the sick at Venta Nursing Home 1983 to 1996. Sister DeSales died peacefully in the early hours of the morning. Her gentle presence and quiet acceptance of the joys and struggles of life touched the lives of numerous people. Pain, suffering and physical handicaps were no obstacles to her active involvement in the lives of her family and the Sisters with whom she lived. Even in the midst of her struggle with cancer Sister DeSales was present at community events. Though she lived in the west for 89 years when the Sisters were asked to move from Edmonton to Mount St. Joseph in 2001 her strong faith enabled her to let go of western roots and make the journey to a new home with courage and a joy that manifested a woman of prayer. For the Sisters of St. Joseph, Sister DeSales was truly a valiant and holy woman. She will be warmly remembered for her gentle, quiet and gracious manner by her CSJ Sisters, her family and friends. The Community is grateful to the Sisters who provided pastoral care and to the nursing staff for their loving attentiveness to Sister DeSales. Resting at Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse, 1486 Richmond Street, North, London on Thursday February 22, 2007 from 2-4 and 7-9 o'clock. Vigil Service will be held at Mount St. Joseph on Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated in Immaculate Conception Chapel, Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse on Friday morning February 23, 2007 at 11 o'clock. Interment in St. Peter's Cemetery. (John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 519-434-2708).