| Amanda Viger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1845-07-27)July 27, 1845 |
| Died | May 8, 1906(1906-05-08) (aged 60) |
| Other names | Saint-Jean-de-Goto |
Amanda Viger was a Canadian nun known for her work in helping people with leprosy.
Early life
Amanda Viger, known as Saint-Jean-de-Goto, was born on July 27, 1845 in Boucherville, Quebec to her parents Bonaventure Viger and Eudoxie Trudel. She completed her secondary studies at the Congregation of Notre-Dame in Boucherville’s boarding school. She was 15 years old when she joined the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph of Montreal and she took her vows on February 2, 1863.
Career
Viger was one of six sisters who moved to Tracadie, New Brunswick in 1868 to help people suffering from leprosy, with Viger's focus first on establishing a pharmacy to provide medicines for people in need. She ultimately remained at the facility for 34 years.
She also established a school in 1873 where she and other nuns helped to educate children until 1885. From 1888 the children were lodged near the lazaretto, and Viger helped raise funds for a new school that was completed in 1898.
In 1875 she was elected as superior of her community, and she was elected mother superior seven more times. Then, in 1902, she was elected superior of the Hôtel-Dieu of Arthabaskaville which she had a larger building constructed and helped with the financial issues facing the institution.
Viger died from cancer on 8 May 1906.
References
- ^ La Plante, Corinne. "Biography – VIGER, AMANDA, named Saint-Jean-de-Goto". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. XIII (1901-1910). Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ "Les religieuses fondatrices". Musée Historique de Tracadie. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
Further reading
- Losier, Mary Jane (1999-01-01). Amanda Viger. Halifax, NS: Halifax, N.S. : Nimbus. ISBN 1-55109-299-9.
- Bourque, Charles L. (2009). Des aboiteaux à la génomique et au-delà : histoire de la Faculté des sciences de l'Université de Moncton. Internet Archive. Moncton, N.-B. : Université de Moncton, Institut d'études acadiennes. ISBN 978-0-9810041-1-2.