(23 Aug. 1891-29 Sept. 1988), named Sister Marie de la Ferre, member of religious community. Parents: Adolphus Villeneuve and his wife Dorina Fillion (also spelling Filion). Her father died when she was a baby. Afterwards, the family lived for some years with Dorina’s parents. Jeanne attended public school in Roxborough Township. Her parish, however, is remembered as St. Catherine of Sienna, Greenfield. In the published history of that parish the address of her parents is given as Lot 33 in the 5th of Kenyon. On 4 Feb. 1912, she entered the Congregation of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph, at Hotel Dieu, Cornwall. She took her vows on 22 June 1914. As part of the work of training as a nurse, she obtained her provincial qualification in nursing. She was deeply involved over many years with the administration and expansion of the Hotel Dieu Hospital, and the development of the school of nursing. Also, she was concerned with St. Paul’s Home and the Nazarene Orphanage, both of Cornwall. From 1957 to 1969 she was superior general, for North America, of the Congregation of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph. The Marie de la Ferre Apartments in Cornwall, constructed within the walls of the Macdonell Memorial Hospital, are named after her.

Seven-page typescript sketch of the life of Sister Marie de la Ferre, preserved in the St. Joseph Province Archives of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph, Kingston, Ont. * St. Catherine of Sienna Parish Greenfield, Ontario 1894-1994 (1994) 41 * Villeneuve 77ff., 242 * Jessie Deslauriers, Like a Bay Tree, Ever Green: the History of St. Joseph Province, Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph (1984) passim (portrait) * Sister Dolores Kane, Caring People Helping People: the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph of Cornwall 1897-1997 (1997): index (portrait) * Standard Freeholder 24 & 25 Oct. 1949: biog. data, portrait, editorial