Sr. Jeannine Boutin, DW, Obituary
Born on January 10, 1926, in Abitibi, Canada, Jeannine Delina Boutin was the first of thirteen children to parents Joseph Hilaire Boutin and Marie Jeanne Simard. Her parents, hardworking pioneers, built a home and farm for their family in the French-Canadian countryside of northwest Quebec. Their dedication and resilience in establishing a life in a rural setting greatly influenced Sr. Jeannine's values and work ethic.
From a tender age, the very independent Sr. Jeannine was resolute in her decision to dedicate her life to God and follow the teachings of Jesus Incarnate Wisdom. At the age of 15, she embarked on this path by joining the Daughters of Wisdom in Eastview, Canada, on September 2, 1941, from the parish of St. Marc De Figuery. Her unwavering commitment was evident when she took her final vows on August 2, 1943.
She was sent to the United States to serve in ministry. There, she became a part of the first community of the U.S. novitiate in Litchfield, Connecticut. A French-speaking native of Canada, she learned English after arriving in the United States. She ministered in Community Service at St. Charles Hospital (Hicks Street), Brooklyn, New York, from 1943 to 1950, at the Novitiate and Montfort Missionaries Seminary in Litchfield, Connecticut, from 1950 to 1965, at Daughters of Wisdom Provincial House in Ozone Park, New York, from 1965 to 1966, at Montfort Missionaries in Bay Shore, New York from 1966 to 1967, at Daughters of Wisdom in Litchfield, Connecticut from 1967 to 1970, and as Executive Housekeeper for Montfort Missionaries in Bay Shore, NY, for a total of over 45 years until her retirement in 2012. Reminiscing about her life in 2018, Sr. Jeannine wrote: "My years of service with our sisters at the Litchfield Novitiate Community and with the Montfort Fathers in Litchfield Seminary and Bay Shore were years of growth and fulfillment. They were, for me, Montfortian works." Her work in each of these ministries was marked by her desire to emulate Marie-Louise, who embodied comforting hospitality to all those she encountered. Sister would often proudly proclaim that her courage, hope, and peace came from what she learned from Montfort: "If you know everything and do not know Jesus Christ, you know nothing, but if you know Jesus Christ, you know everything."
Long before Catholics and other Christians were into the treasures of Eastern Spirituality, Sr. Jeannine took the means to enter the Zen Meditation disciplines. She took part in more than 30 sessions or retreats with Zen Buddhists. She wrote about this aspect of her life: "It was a source of energy in soul, body, and mind. Could this be the reason why I am still so strong? Zen Meditation was a great help in understanding my own Christian spirituality. It taught me to live in the present moment and to be at peace and at ease with myself." Sr. Jeannine's practice of Zen Meditation was not a departure from her Christian faith but rather a complementary discipline that enriched her understanding of Christian spirituality, which she shared freely with others.
Sister Jeannine, a source of Wisdom and peace, will be greatly missed by her extended family, the Daughters of Wisdom and Montfort Missionaries. She was predeceased by her parents, Marie Jeanne and Joseph Hilaire, and her siblings, Rene Francois, Therese, and Lucienne. She is survived by her siblings Gerard, Marie Marthe, Marie Ange, Andree, Fernande, and Rose Anna.
Wake and Funeral Arrangements
Wake and Prayer Service: Tuesday, September 24, 2:00 - 5:00 pm, Prayer Service at 3:00 pm, Moloney’s Port Jefferson Station Funeral Home, 523 NY-112, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776. Funeral Mass: Wednesday, September 25, 10:30 am, Montfort Spiritual Center, 26 S Saxon Ave, Bay Shore, NY 11706.
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