Born on Nov. 30, 1916 in Prairie du Rocher, she was one of 11 children of Amadee and Norine (Peyrot) Laurent. Sister Madeleine made her first profession on July 2, 1934 and made her final vows, along with her older sister, Celine, on July 1, 1939. She received her R.N. degree in 1939 and her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1948, both from the School of Nursing at Saint Louis University in St. Louis.
For 62 years, Sister Madeleine was a nurse and often the supervisor of surgery, obstetrics and medical and surgical units. She worked primarily in hospitals in Illinois, including more than 16 years at St. Vincent (now Memorial) Hospital in Taylorville; 11 years at St. Andrew/St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro; 15 years at St. Clement (now Red Bud Regional) Hospital in Red Bud; and more than 18 years at the Adorers’ Retirement Centers, first at Clementine Residence in Red Bud and later at the Ruma Center.
Sister Madeleine also had the opportunity to work with the poor alongside Blessed Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India. After Mother Teresa spoke at an international meeting of the Adorers in Rome in 1971, Sister Madeleine responded to her invitation to help. She was one of only four sisters selected from the many who volunteered from the United States. Limited by a six-month visa, the volunteers worked from March to September 1972. Sister Madeleine treasured her experience, describing the work as “difficult and the hours long but very memorable as we ministered with the sisters and the many people of the villages.”
Sister Madeleine was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Robert, Lee and Albert Laurent; her sisters, Sister Celine Laurent, ASC, Edna Gore, and Alma, Mary, Anne and Emma Grace Laurent.
She is survived by her brother Clarence Laurent, nieces, nephews and cousins as well as member of the ASC community. The funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 2, with Father Clyde Grogan presiding and Sister Jan Renz, ASC, giving the reflection. Burial was in the cemetery at the Ruma Center.
Memorial contributions may be sent to ASC Retirement Fund, 4233 Sulphur Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63109 or can be made online at www.adorers.org by clicking on the “Donate” button in the upper right hand corner.