Mother Nila (1927-2017)

Our dear sister in Christ, Mother Nila, was born Irene Lebedeff on March 9, 1927 of Russian parents in Riga, Latvia. Throughout her long and fruitful life, Mother Nila lived in Latvia, Poland, Peru and Quebec. She was married and had two children. After the death of her husband, she was tonsured a nun at the Monastery of the Protection of the Mother of God in Bussy-en-Othe, France. Returning to Quebec, she spent the past 30 years of her life in Rawdon, QC.

Mother Nila was an extraordinary person: luminous and inspiring, warm and down to earth, with a free and universal spirit.

She was born to eternal life on April 19, 2017.

Priest Marc (Pierre) served a panikhida for her that day, and Vladyka Irénée served another one two days later on April 21 at St. Seraphim of Sarov Church, Rawdon, QC. Vladyka also served the Liturgy of the Leave-taking of the Feast of the Resurrection on April 22. Archpriest Gregory Nimijean, rector of Sign of the Theotokos parish in Montreal, served the funeral for Mother Nila at St. Seraphim of Sarov Church in the presence of numerous members of the clergy, her family and friends. She was buried at the Orthodox cemetery in Rawdon.

Memory eternal!