SR M. CHANTAL HOANG THI HONG

Sr M. Chantal was born in Lang Thanh Try in Vietnam into a Buddhist family. She converted to Christianity and her deep desire was to follow Christ and become a nun. She entered a convent in Vietnam and then came to France. She was welcomed at the Chemin de Montauban in Lyon on 8 November 1950 where she began her postulancy. As there were only two novices, the superiors decided to send the two novices to Hasting, England. This was an opportunity for her to learn the English language. She returned to Lyon to take her first vows on 11 February 1954.

After her first vows she was appointed to St Rambert to look after the Eurasian boarders and at the same time she was in charge of the linen room. In 1965 she was sent to Charenton for community service and to take in the tramps who needed something to eat. In 1970 she left for Toulon to look after the boarders. In 1971 she was moved to Château Chinon where she worked as a housekeeper for the elderly. In 1972 she returned to Charenton to work as a nursery assistant while managing the school canteen. As she had done a good job managing the canteen in Charenton, in 1983 she returned to Toulon to serve the community and help in the school canteen..

In 1984 she was sent to St Rambert to take charge of the kitchen and the market for the  groups. In 1992 she returned to Charenton where she served the community and helped in the canteen. She remained there until 2003 when she was appointed to community service in Lyon. In 2003 her health declined and she asked to go to Toulon for her retirement. In 2012, as she felt her strength was diminishing, she asked to go to Les Buers (a retirement home where we had some sisters).  At the retirement home, Marie Chantal was well regarded as a very prayerful person. When the sisters visited her, she always asked them about each sister in each community. She faithfully followed the Rosary spread from Lourdes, praying to Mary for the mission and for the sisters of the Congregation.

Understanding her deteriorating health, Marie Chantal told the sisters that she wanted to go to the Lord. On Friday 29 July 2022, she suffered a stroke and was taken to the hospital in Villeurbanne.  She fell into a coma. The doctors only kept her for one day before transferring her to Les Buers because she was at the end of her life and it was better for her to die at home. She received her last sacrament. But she miraculously came out of her coma on 2 August 2022. Sister Marie Rose SENE accompanied her with great care during her last days. On 8 August Sr M. Chantal went to the Father’s house. Many sisters said that she waited for Sister Thien An to return from her holiday. On August 8 Thien An returned from her holiday and immediately went with the sisters of the Lyon community to see Marie Chantal. Marie Chantal left peacefully while they were there.

Her funeral took place on 19 August in Les Buers in the presence of the sisters of each community. Father Etienne, celebrating Marie Chantal’s funeral, said that Sister Marie Chantal’s service and life were quiet.

We have the memory of a very discreet and prayerful sister who was concerned about the well-being of each one and who had a great sense of justice.

Rest in the tenderness of the Father dear Marie Chantal.