A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Élisabeth Fliche, D.C., was celebrated Jan. 3, 2015, at DePaul Chapel in Albany, N.Y. Burial followed at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, N.Y.
Sister died Dec. 25, 2014, at St. Louise House in Albany. She was 100 years of age and 79 years vocation.
Born in Villerest (Loire), France, Oct. 7, 1914, Sister Élisabeth (baptized Yvonne Élisabeth) was the oldest of eight children born to Bernard and Jeanne (Guitton) Fliche. She entered the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in March of 1935 in Malakoff, just outside of Paris. Sister Élisabeth completed Seminary (novitiate) in Paris and then was missioned to the Daughters’ House in the Rue Championnet in Paris where she taught and studied nursing and social services at St. Joseph Hospital in Paris—a hospital administered by the Daughters of Charity. While there, Sister Élisabeth also visited the poor in their homes and, not too many years ago, recalled the bombardment of Paris in April 1944.
In the spring of 1948, Sister Élisabeth was missioned to Canada. During her first five years there, Sister served the physically and mentally handicapped in Sherbrooke, Québec (1948 to 1952). For one year, Sister served at Asbestos Hospital in Asbestos, Québec. She then ministered at St. Catherine Labouré Hospital in Coaticook, Québec (1952 to 1970). Then, for nearly 30 more years, Sister served in Montreal and Coaticook caring for the elderly, disabled children and immigrant children. Sister was a local superior and regional councillor for her Community, and a friend to the less fortunate in Sherbrooke, Coaticook and Montreal.
Sister Élisabeth joined the Ministry of Prayer in Albany in April 2001, where she lived until the time of her death.
Sister Élisabeth was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by one sister, Marguerite M. Alzuyeta, of France; her nephew, Bernard Charlin, M.D., of Montreal; and her Sisters in Community.