Alice Theodora St. Hilaire, SP
September 2, 1928 - December 27, 2018
Obituary
ALICE ST. HILAIRE, SP
(Sister Mary Georgetta)
Sister Alice St. Hilaire, age 90, a Sister of Providence for 70 years, died December 27, 2018, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, WA. Vigil Service: Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at 6:30 PM, and Funeral Mass: Thursday, January 3, 2019, at 11:00 AM, both at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, WA, after Mass and reception. Bonney Watson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Alice Theodora St. Hilaire was born September 2, 1928 to Leo and Helen (Kohls) St. Hilaire in Yakima, Washington. She was the oldest of eight children. Alice entered the Sisters of Providence in November 1947at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, Washington, and in May 1948, she became a novice. In November 1949 she professed first vows and received the name Sister Mary Georgetta, and in November 1952 she professed final vows.
Alice graduated in 1946 from St. Joseph Academy, Yakima, WA. In 1956, Sister Alice earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the College of Great Falls, now the University of Providence in Great Falls, MT. Sister Alice received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from St. Louis University, MO, where she also earned certification from the Institute of Religious Formation.
Sister Alice’s first ministry from 1950-56 was in education as a teacher in Montana: Sacred Heart Academy (now St. Francis Xavier) – Missoula. Washington: St. Catherine School – Seattle; and St. Vincent Academy (now St. Patrick School – Walla Walla. In Alaska: Immaculate Conception School – Anchorage.
From 1956-60 Sister Alice was a doctoral student at St. Louis University, MO, where she received her doctorate in philosophy in 1961. She taught philosophy for 13 years, first on the faculty of Seattle University at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, Providence Heights College of Sister Formation in Issaquah, and at the Seattle University campus as well. Later she taught at St. Thomas Seminary in Kenmore, WA.
In 1973, Sister Alice returned to St. Louis University for a nine-month program at the Institute of Religious Formation. She continued her ministry in formation, and also was the beginning of a spiritual direction ministry, which continued until retirement. Over the years at different times, Sister Alice was a member of the formation team.
Sister Alice’s ministry of religious community service in formation was followed up with the position of Director of Retirement, and Provincial Councilor. She also served for seven years at Providence Hospitality House, a shelter for homeless women and their children.
In 1990 Sister Alice moved to central Washington to live with her mother, who was no longer able to care for herself. She was also spiritual director for numerous people. She kept her hand in formation ministry by serving on the Yakima Diocesan Vocation Committee.
In 2004 Sr. Alice was honored for her lifelong commitment to the ministry of formation during the Religious Formation Conference’s 50th Jubilee in the Northwest.
In 2015 Sr. Alice retired to St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, where she enjoyed days with prayer, exercise, time outdoors, reading and spending cherished time with family, friends and her sisters in community.
Sr. Alice is preceded in death by her parents, sister Lucy, SP, and brothers, Jim and Tom. She is survived by her sister, Mary Roy (Leonard), brothers, Tim (Pat), Ted (Katie), Paul (Krista), nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
May the angels in heaven rejoice, one of their own has come home. Sr. Alice was always an inspiration to me. My condolences to all of you
Bernadette
Sending love and prayers for Sister Alice and for all the family.
I will keep Sister Alice and her family in prayer. What a wonderful inspiring woman she was. I worked for a short time with her on the Ignatian Spirituality team in Yakima. She was also my spiritual director as I went through the Spiritual Exercises. She will be welcomed in heaven as one of their own! May you Rest In Peace, Sister Alice. I will never forget your beautiful smile!
Aunt Alice lived life well! She also loved her family well, including us, her neices and nephews. I got to know her when she moved back to the valley to take care of our grandma of whom received the best expert and honoring care. Alice would come to any gathering we invited her to and tell us the hilarious (pun intended) stories of her childhood with my dad and their siblings. My children loved her also. I still have the recipe box she hand crafted and filled with her typed out recipes from all my relatives. The last time she visited me, she brought a delicious cherry pie she had made with fresh cherries she had picked herself! She was amazing!
We love you aunt Alice!
I love you aunt Alice I will miss our good times and all the memories. God got a beautiful angel love you
Sister Alice was a lovely, godly woman who became my personal friend over time. I am privileged to have known her through our work on the Diocesan Vocation Committee.
Sister Alice was the first person at Providence that I had the pleasure of working with as a secretary. She was a wonderful person who touched many persons lives, not the least of them was me. I will always remember her kind ways making it easy to be her assistant,
Thank you, Sister for all you did and were to so many, Rest in Peace and someday we will meet again.
Mollie