Sister Anne Lemire

Sister Anne Lemire, CSJ (formerly Sister M. Virginia) died peacefully at the Sisters of St. Joseph Residence, 2 O’Connor Drive, Toronto, Ontario on Friday, January 31, 2025 in the 76th year of her religious life.

She was predeceased by her parents, Augusto Lemire from Montreal and Margaret Kelly from Co. Limerick, Ireland. Sister Anne is lovingly remembered by her sister, Sister Mary Carol Lemire, CSJ, her Sisters in community, as well as her many friends.

Sister Anne was born and raised in Toronto and was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph for her elementary grades and then graduated high school from St. Joseph’s College School in 1946. She chose teaching as her profession and taught in the separate school system before joining the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto in February 1949. Following her novitiate and first profession, Sister Anne was an educator in a number of schools in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta.

Her pastoral ministry over the years included work at the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture and serving in Toronto parishes including Canadian Martyrs, Annunciation, and Newman Centre, University of Toronto. Sister Anne reached out to support refugee families through the Becoming Neighbours program. She ministered to women and the elderly and she also prayed for the needs of the poor and the newcomers to our city.

Sister Anne died peacefully at the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Residence where she had been receiving excellent nursing care and attention.