Old Montreal in Montréal, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)

Mère Marie-Marguerite d'Youville

(1701-1771)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 20, 2024

1. Mère Marie-Marguerite d'Youville Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

[Français] Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais, née à Varennes, fit ses études chez les Ursulines de Québec. Vers 1720, elle vint habiter à Montréal et, en août 1722, épousa François d'Youville, dont elle eut six enfants. En 1730, devenue veuve, elle se consacra à ses enfants, aux dévotions ex aux bonnes œuvres. En 1737, avec trois compagnes, elle s’engagea à servir les pauvres. Prirent ainsi naissance les Sœurs de la Charité, appelées communément les Sœurs Grises, qui reçurent l’approbation épiscopale dix-huit ans plus tard. En 1747, Madame d'Youville prit en charge l'Hôpital général de Montréal, et s’y dévoua jusqu’à sa mort.

[English] Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais was born at Varennes and educated by the Ursulines at Québec. About 1720 she came to Montréal where, in 1722, she married François d'Youville, with whom she had six children. Widowed in 1730, she devoted herself to raising her children, to religion, and to good works. In 1737, she and three companions dedicated themselves to the service of the poor. Their community, the Sisters of Charity, commonly

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known as the Grey Nuns, received episcopal sanction eighteen years later. In 1747 Madame d'Youville took charge of the Hôpital general de Montréal, which became a major part of her vocation.

Erected by Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada et Parcs Canada/Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Parks Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1701.

Location. 45° 30.036′ N, 73° 33.328′ W. Marker is in Montréal, Québec. It is in Old Montreal. It is at the intersection of Place d'Youville and Rue Saint-Pierre, on the right when traveling north on Place d'Youville. The marker is mounted at eye-level near the southwest corner of the building at this intersection, facing south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Place d'Youville, Montréal QC H2Y 2L7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Maison de Mère d'Youville (here, next to this marker); L'évolution du site comme témoin du quartier / The Evolution of the site as Witness to Neighbourhood (within shouting distance of this marker);

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 20, 2024

2. Mère Marie-Marguerite d'Youville Marker

Looking north along Place d'Youville toward the Rue Saint-Pierre intersection.

Caserne 1 (within shouting distance of this marker); Les Sœurs Grises de Montréal / The Grey Nuns of Montréal (within shouting distance of this marker); L'Ancien Hôpital General des Sœurs Grises / The Grey Nuns' Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); Marguerite d'Youville et Sœurs Grises de Montréal / Marguerite d'Youville and Grey Nuns of Montreal (within shouting distance of this marker); L'Hôpital général et l'évolution du site 1693-1871 / The Hôpital général Site Development 1693-1871 (within shouting distance of this marker); La Grande Paix de Montréal / The Great Peace of Montréal (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montréal.

Regarding Mère Marie-Marguerite d'Youville. Founder of the Order of the Sisters of Charity (1737). Designated a Canadian National Historic Person (1973). Sainthood 1990.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Mother Marie-Marguerite d'Youville and The Grey Nuns of Montréal

Also see . . .
1. Marie-Marguerite d'Youville (Wikipedia)

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Excerpt : By age 30, D'Youville had suffered the loss of her father, husband and four of her six children, who died in infancy. But she underwent a religious renewal during her marriage. Marguerite and three other women founded in 1737 a religious association to provide a home for the poor in Montreal. At first, the home housed only four or five members, but it grew as the women raised funds. As their actions went against the social conventions of the day, d'Youville and her colleagues were mocked by their friends and relatives, and even by the poor they helped. Some called them "les grises", which can mean "the grey women" but which also means "the drunken women", in reference to d'Youville's late husband's career as a bootlegger. In 1747, the women were granted a charter to operate the General Hospital of Montreal, which by that time was in ruins and deeply in debt. D'Youville and her fellow workers re-established the financial security of the hospital. As the congregation expanded to other cities, it became known simply as the "Grey Nuns".

(Submitted on March 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Marie-Marguerite Marguerite “Dufrost” d'Youville (Find A Grave).

(Sainte-Anne de Varennes Basilica, Varennes, Monteregie Region, Quebec, Canada) Excerpt : She started the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, formerly called The Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal and more commonly known as the Grey Nuns of Montreal. Pope John-Paul II made her a saint of the Catholic Church in 1990. She is the first Canadian-born person to become a saint. The Grey Nuns still exist in many branches around the world. Her body was moved from the motherhouse to the Saint-Anne crypt.

(Submitted on March 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Sainte-Marie-Marguerite d'Youville, National Historic Person. (Submitted on March 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 154 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.