Sister Clotilde de la Passion, lsp

Sister Clotilde de la Passion, lsp (née Irene Mary Jardim) was born on April 22, 1940, in Newark, NJ to Zulmira and Jose Jardim soon after they immigrated from the Madeira Islands. She lived in Newark for about 6 years until the family moved west to Oakland, CA. There she attended St Lawrence O'Toole grammar school and was a member of its first graduating class. From there, she went to Bishop O'Dowd High School, graduating in 1958 as a member of its 4th graduating class. Sr Clotilde retained fond memories of her classmates and of her four years at O'Dowd; so much so that she frequently timed her “home visits” so she could attend some of their class reunions. During her high school years, she became familiar with the Little Sisters of the Poor and their vocation to serve the needy elderly by volunteering in their Marian Aides program.  This time working and praying with the Sisters helped her discern a vocation to the religious life, and Sr Clotilde entered the Little Sisters of the Poor as a postulant at their home in Oakland (now closed) shortly after graduating from high school.  She continued her formation as a novice in Queens, NY, where she made her first profession of vows on June 13, 1961.  A few years later she travelled to the Motherhouse of the Little Sisters of the Poor in France, where she spent a year preparing for her final profession of vows, which she made on October 15, 1965.  Sr. Clotilde tells us, “My vocation as a Little Sister of the Poor is a gift from God, following in the footsteps of Christ and Saint Jeanne Jugan. Serving the elderly and needy is very rewarding. During her life as a Little Sister of the Poor, she completed studies in nursing and served as a nurse in several of their homes for the elderly, often as the Director of Nursing.  Following in the footsteps of St. Jeanne Jugan, the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Sr. Clotilde always sought to make the elderly happy and cared for them with love and compassion.  She spent the last year of her life at the home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Palatine, IL, where she passed away on March 8, 2024, surrounded by the prayers and love of the community.  

Sr Clotilde is survived by her brother, George Jardim of Walnut Creek, CA; a sister, Judy Jardim Greenhouse of Oakland; several nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandniece. Another brother, Philip, passed away in 2022.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly, 80 W Northwest Hwy, Palatine. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., also at St. Joseph’s Home. The Interment will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine.