Born: 20 October 1929
First Profession: 9 March 1954
Died: 19 April 2026
Sister Anne Marie Patri was born at Saint Saturnino, in Rome, Italy on the 20th October 1929. After a happy childhood, the death of her mother deeply affected her during her adolescence. This void would never be filled, despite the good relationship she would develop with her step-mother. After her primary and secondary school studies she obtained her Brevet Diploma. She then took courses in First Aid and studied Home Economics.
At 22 years of age, feeling drawn to missionary life, she entered the Postulancy of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary in France. She committed herself through her Religious Vows during her First Profession at Ste Foy-Les-Lyon on 9 March 1954. It was in 1957 that she was sent on mission to New Caledonia, and it was in this territory that she would spend her entire missionary life; giving 69 years of service in this diocese.
She worked as a teacher at Kone for two years. In 1959 she was sent to Tye and then to Belep, still as a teacher. It was at Belep that she pronounced her Perpetual Vows on 9 March 1960. Sister Anne Marie never forgot the delicious fish that the mothers in Belep brought her almost every day. At 90 years of age, she was still talking about this!
From 1961 to 1971, Sister again taught at Kone in the elementary classes, then at the Primary School at Thio. In June 1971 Sr Anne Marie returned to France to make her Second Novitiate. She took advantage of this time to further her professional knowledge as a teacher. In 1972, she was once again missioned to New Caledonia and returned to Kone to become the Headmistress of Immaculate Conception School and Superior of the community.
In 1973 she was appointed to the Foyer Massabielle in Noumea, a hostel for young working women, where Sr Anne Marie discovered the difficulties related to paid work, plus the varied housing and other problems faced by young people who arrive from the bush.
She returned to La Foa in 1974 and taught at Notre Dame School. In 1975 she went to Paita, always as a teacher. She was then put in charge of the smsm community at Paita. From January 1982 to February 1983, Anne Marie spent time in Rome and at Lyon for a year of renewal.
On returning to New Caledonia, she taught at Thio from 1983 to 1987. She was then on the Isle des Pins until 1989. After a year of holiday and studies spent in Italy, she came back to take charge of the library at the school in La Foa. Sister Anne Marie was happy to give of herself to this new role which suited her talents perfectly. A cultured person, she was well versed in French literature. She read extensively throughout her life, and even in her later years, she kept up with current events by means of the radio and other media. In 2000 she was assigned to Bourail, and the following year she left for time away in Italy.
She returned to La Foa until 2004. In May 2007 her work in Catholic education came to an end, and in 2009 she began her retirement in the Quartier Latin community. Being in charge of welcoming people to this regional house where there were a lot of visitors, she was the victim of a domestic accident: she fell in the kitchen with a pot of boiling soup in her hand… Severely burnt, she found herself spending several months in Nouville Hospital. It was there that she experienced the suffering of burn victims. Thanks to the visits and support of her friends and the Sisters, she recovered, and after a time staying at the Cana community in the Riviere Salee, she went to Mont-Mou where she remained until Sunday 19th April, when the Lord called her to her eternal home.
Sister Anne Marie was well known in the education community in New Caledonia; she lived a life entirely devoted to children. Her focus as a teacher, was on nurturing the full development and personality of each child. She was concerned with their knowledge, but above all, with their education. The religious formation of her children was paramount.
She peacefully joined the Lord on Sunday 19th April 2026.
Thank you, Anne Marie, for your life given to the Lord in service to children.
May the Lord welcome you into His joy and peace!
