Address by Sister Françoise PETIT at the Funeral of Sister Elisabeth Charpy, May 28, 2026.
As soon as the announcement of Sister Elisabeth Charpy’s death reached the Provinces of the Company, messages began arriving immediately at the Motherhouse. The first came from Cameroon, followed by India, the Caribbean, Spain, and many others.
Each message expressed gratitude toward the one who succeeded in restoring Saint Louise de Marillac to the place that rightly belongs to her within the Company and in the Church. The Sisters emphasise that Sister Elisabeth is, and will remain for a long time, a reference point for each of us whenever we wish to deepen our understanding of our origins, our charism, and its relevance today.
Sister Elisabeth CHARPY 1929-1948, died on 17 May 2026 in l’Hay-les-Roses
Several also recalled that Sister Elisabeth’s visits to their countries highlighted the importance of ongoing formation to serve more effectively.
Sister Elisabeth knew how to pass on her passion and her love for reading the writings of Saint Louise—writings that are not always easy to understand—to several generations of Daughters of Charity. Whenever I travel, I meet the Sisters in the Seminary, and everywhere they study Saint Louise with the help of what Sister Elisabeth has written.
Today, the entire Company thanks her and gives thanks to the Lord for all that she was. May she intercede so that other Daughters of Charity may have the same desire to continue, as she did, the transmission of the Founders’ writings for the benefit of us all and, consequently, for that of our poorest brothers and sisters.
