Sr Martha Fluet

List of Deceased Sisters

Date of Death 15/01/2018

Sister Martha Fluet, smsm

(Formerly: Sister Mary Alma smsm)

August 8^th 1919 – January 15^th, 2018

Martha Fluet was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1919, one of eleven children born to Arthur Fluet and Emma (Frechette) Fluet, both of whom were born in Quebec, Canada. Three of Martha’s siblings were also Marists: Fathers Philippe and Henry were Marist Fathers, and her younger sister, Marcelle, who died in 2012, was also an SMSM.

Martha entered the Marist Missionary Sisters in Bedford, Massachusetts on February 15^th, 1938, the year after she graduated from high school.  She made her first vows on August 15^th, 1940.  After profession she gave service in the Boston community, and then did a two-year course for a Teacher Training certificate in Fall River, Massachusetts.  In 1946 she was missioned to Tonga, where she taught for several years.

In 1950 Sr Martha was recalled to the USA to assist at the novitiate in Bedford, and then was named as Postulant Mistress in Lowell, Massachusetts.  In 1957 she did her “Second Novitiate” (a time of spiritual renewal) and afterwards began studies at Emanuel College where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1960.  Later she received a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist at Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During her years in Framingham, she gave remedial reading classes to many children and adults.  She formed some lifelong friendships there, especially with adults who were so grateful for the help she gave them.

In 1973, Sr Martha was missioned to Peru.  After about 6 months studying Spanish at Cochabamba in Bolivia, she arrived in Lima ready for a new challenge.  Several Sisters who had been with her in Peru were present at her funeral and shared about how much they appreciated the adaptability of this “older” Sister despite her obvious frustrations.  Her patience grew through trials.  Sr Martha was coordinating the First Communion programs in several schools in the Lima area.  One Sister told us that it was a yearly trial for Sr Martha to get one of the pastors to set a date to hear the first confessions of the children.  Finally, one year she said to him, “If you don’t want to hear their confessions, I will!” Finally, she got an answer.

Sr. Marilyn Farley also wrote to us from Australia,

It was one of my privileges to live with Martha when she worked from our house in Maranga in catechetics in the Callao area. She was a truly lovely lady to live with, sharing the SMSM charism and spirit both in community and with all those whose lives she touched in her apostolates. I learnt much from her and have no doubt she will be watching over us during our ups-and-downs of today.

Besides her work in the city of Lima, Sr Martha also served in northern Peru, in the San Ramon parish in Chulucanas. During her “Words of Remembrance” at the funeral, Sr. Pauline St Pierre mentioned that there was another sister there named Mary, and neither one of them enjoyed the jokes that were made about them, comparing them to the Biblical “Martha and Mary”.

In 1990, Sr Martha returned to the USA.  After a time of Spiritual Renewal at St. Stephen’s in Dover, Massachusetts, she gave community service at Lexington, which at that time was a transition house for Sisters returning from overseas mission.  Later she moved to Waltham where she taught English as a Second Language at the Power Centre, and visited the residents at Maristhill Nursing Home.

In March, 2005, Sr. Martha moved to the Marillac Residence in Wellesley Hills.  In March, 2008, when she needed more care, she moved to St Patrick’s Manor – a nursing home in Framingham, Massachusetts.

She had always been close to her family, and in recent years, felt keenly the loss of several of her sisters, especially Sr Marcie, who lived in our Framingham community and visited Martha frequently.  She was shocked to think that this younger sister of hers, who had always been so active, had gone to heaven before her. Several of her nieces continued to visit her and to devote themselves to her care.

Only the Lord knows the story of these last silent years of Martha.  When we would go to visit her, often she could not communicate with words, but there was a sparkle of recognition – even of joy – in her eyes.  For the most part, she seemed at peace, and she went home to the Lord peacefully in the early afternoon of Monday, January 25^th, at St Patrick’s Manor.  No doubt she was received with joy by Jesus and Mary and by so many family members, friends and those she had helped along the way.

“Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Mt.25:23-25)

Gratefully in Mary,

Sister Mary Jane Kenney, smsm    (Regional Leader)

Sister Virginia Fornasa, smsm    (Communications Secretary)