Oct. 15, 2014

First in a series of biographies of 2014 religious jubilarians

The small town of Redford in Clinton County has notable fame for out of its hills, a native and distinguished soul came.  As a young girl Sister Agnes Racette became a boarder at the convent school of Sallaz Academy in Redford.Sister Agnes Racette was born on March 30, 1919, the daughter of the late Louis A. Racette and Ursula M. Suprenant.  She grew up in a large family with four brothers and four sisters; she attended elementary school under the care of a devoted teacher, her mother.

Upon completing the eighth grade she entered Sallaz Academy where she spent her high school years guided by the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis. 

A few years later, she followed the call to the religious life and professed vows in 1939 and made Final Profession on August 25, 1945 in the same religious congregation.

She arrived at Our Lady of Victory Convent in Plattsburgh.  After completing her stay at the College at St. Rose in Albany, she obtained a Masters of Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa in Ontario.

Sister Agnes began a long and successful career as a teacher and principal.

It wasn't long before she received the big word: She was named Superior....had her ears rightly heard?  It seemed not to her, but to others so likely, for a kind Mother to many she proved to be. 

Besides being Superior, she taught the eighth grade; she must had done well, for by Keeseville, she was sought. 

Her same role as principal was nothing strange nor was her teaching eighth grade there subject to change. 
Her years of Mission Appointments also took her to Valcartier, P.Q, Cheshire, CT, and Oakville, CT.

Besides being a teacher, principal and superior, she had responsibilities as treasurer and Provincial Councilor.  On Nov.20, 1999 Sister Agnes Racette was one of the inductees in the Clinton County Catholic Schools Wall of Acclaim sponsored by Seton Catholic Central.

Sister Agnes withdrew from active service in 1989 when she began her retirement at Our Lady of Victory Convent in Plattsburgh, and participated in the ministry of prayer. Some of her favorite activities included reading, Word Search, caring for plants, and oil painting.

Her creative talent showed itself in her recycling of greeting cards, which were distributed to the residents at the Nursing Homes during the holiday season.

On Nov. 16, 2009 sickness required that she make her home at Evergreen Valley Nursing home where she currently resides.  In her stay there she touches the lives of staff and residents and prays for them as well as for her Sisters in community.

The Diocese of Ogdensburg opened its observance of the Year of Consecrated Life Sunday at the Religious Jubilee at St. Mary’s Cathedral. A week earlier, Bishop Terry R. LaValley made a visit to Evergreen Valley Nursing Home in Plattsburgh to personally extend congratulations to Sister Agnes Racette for her 75th Jubilee as a Sister of Charity of St. Louis. Pictured, front, are Bishop LaValley,  Sister Agnes and  Sister Bernadette Ducharme, another Sister of Charity of St. Louis; back, Sister of Charity Claire Michel Fortier and Father  William Reamer, pastor of Our Lady of Victory Church in Plattsburgh.