In Memory of Sister Mary Beatrice Daviet

Her Daviet roots go back to Alsace-Lorraine, by way of France to Larose, on Bayou Lafourche. Her father, Louis Etienne Daviet, one of eight (including the mother of Sr. M. Alphonsus), was an accountant, later a banker, had stores that delivered daily up and down the bayou, and was a leader in the local church and community. He married Alice Guidroz, whose roots were Swiss et al; Alice had one brother, and eight sisters (one named Beatrice) all of whom finished State Normal (later Northwestern) becoming teachers.

Alice and Louis Daviet named their only daughter, eldest of four children, Alice Beatrice. Talent for music and art came from both sides of the family. Beatrice went to Larose School, and at fifteen with her friend Stephanie Bouvier (Sr. M. Monica) to Dominican College. After one year she joined the sisters; asked to choose between music, at which she was accomplished, and classroom teaching, she chose the classroom, and never looked back. She distinguished herself as a teacher for 56 years.

At the Vespers service, Mary C. Daniel, OP, told of Beatrice at chapter meeting, arguing strongly for her side of an issue, and later informing Mary that she had decided after much thought to yield, because she was called to keep up with the times.

Others spoke of how faithful she remained to her students. The daily paper omitted the death notice for the June 16 service, but the motherhouse chapel was filled with devoted former students, in addition to sisters and family. “Everybody called everybody,” one woman explained. Red roses from three Graugnard sisters, all students of Sr. Bea at Dominican College, decorated the photo exhibit tracing her life of 94 years. Generous offerings came for the sisters’ retirement fund, as Sister requested in her meticulous arrangements. She had composed her obituary, determined that it be a modest account.

Charlotte Lozes Todd, DHS ‘33, recalled that a young Sr. Beatrice had her high school English class present “Thanatopsis” as a drama, after being advised it could not be done. The production was hailed as a great success, even by the naysayers.

“Sister will always be a part of my life. She taught our class ‘The Hound of Heaven.’ I can never forget. I know heaven is more beautiful because of her.” --Nora “Peck” G. Abadie, DHS ’38

“Sister Mary Beatrice so enriched my life my four years of college at Dominican. She was a sweet and loving person and I loved her with all my heart. We were very close; none of us will ever forget her,” --Nathalie Winter Willig, BA ’45.

“She inspired me as an English professor sixty-one years ago, and as a gentle, loving influence on my life through all the years since then” --Jane Warren Frick, BS ’46.

Simple people and intellectuals were drawn to her:

“I’ve known Sr. Beatrice for such a short time, but really did take a great liking to her: a walking library!” --Irene Roques Bourgeois

A sister who took all her major courses under “everyone’s favorite teacher” was disappointed upon reaching graduate school to find that no one on the prestigious faculty was equal to Sr. Beatrice.

Bea was at the heart of community, writing the annals for many years. She loved the writing, and only in 1996 after agonizing over the decision, asked to be relieved because of her health. She continued serving as coordinator of her hall, taking the responsibility most seriously, planning meetings, organizing birthday outings, becoming “nurse” and “gopher” for sisters who needed care, not yet ready for the infirmary. She worked hard to do all things well.

Deep respect for her students prompted her to active listening, and staff members of the college paper, Veritas, remember her being available after hours, taking a genuine interest in whatever concerned her student. She was sensitive to life’s contradictions, and had a well of compassion for human suffering. She was a campus minister before the term was coined. As frail and unprepossessing as she was in physical stature, she could be spellbinding on a topic that sparked her enthusiasm.

To say she was devoted to her teaching is an understatement. Yet, after forty-one happy years teaching at St. Mary’s Dominican College, where she had begun as a student at age fifteen, she was ready to accept the reality when the college closed in its seventy-fifth year. She soon began with gusto a new career in Alumnae Relations, continuing until 1994.

Beatrice loved people with passion; they loved her in return. She was tenderly devoted to her brothers and their families. She brought passion to her politics, keeping up with the news, interviewing candidates by phone. She was a romantic: Dante with his Beatrice inspired her. She herself inspired others. She was dignified, yet playful. She spoke with her eyes, as well as with words. She was a unique jewel, a lifelong learner, a woman of prayer, a witness to her truth, and a true Dominican.