Irma Le Fer de la Motte

Born on 15 April 1816 at Saint-Servan, Irma Le Fer de la Motte was the fourth of twelve children of Charles Le Fer de la Motte and Eugenie de Ginguene.^[2] Her early education was scant. She learned from an informal school run by an elderly woman, and also from an English woman who lived in the town.^[3]

She joined Sisters of Providence (Ruillé-sur-Loir, France), in 1839, where she was given a religious name as Sister Francis Xavier.^[4] On 17 November 1841 she arrived to Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, where she served for fourteen years until her death.^[5] At Sisters of Providence, she also held important leadership positions including novice mistress. She assisted Saint Theodora Guerin, the founder of Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, in discharging her administrative responsibilities.^[4]

She died in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on 31 January 1856.^[6]