Dr. Sister Fleurette Sweeney
April 19, 1929 – November 1, 2025
Fleurette Marie Sweeney, SC, died peacefully at Caritas Residence in Halifax, NS on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the age of 96. Sister Fleurette was born in Kentville, NS on April 19, 1929, the daughter of Daniel and Lydia (Surette) Sweeney.
Even as a child, Sister Fleurette felt a longing to know God more deeply. She wanted to be a priest; however, her mother explained that she could serve God as a Sister and obtain the same end. Determined to meet Sisters and learn more about their lives, she enrolled at Mount Saint Vincent University, where she soon discerned her calling. She entered the Sisters of Charity-Halifax in 1947 and made her first profession in 1949.
Sister Fleurette had a long and fruitful life dedicated to faith, education, and music. Born the second youngest of ten children in a loving and musical family, Fleurette’s early years were filled with song. Her father was a gifted fiddler, and several siblings played instruments or sang, often turning evening chores into impromptu concerts. Her parents valued education deeply and ensured their children had access to higher learning. Education became her life’s ministry, with a special love for music. She earned a Master’s Degree in music and psychology from the College of the Holy Names in California and there developed a deep appreciation for the Kodály method of music education. In 1967, she traveled to Hungary to study under Professor Zoltán Kodály himself, a remarkable opportunity at a time when Hungary was still under communist rule.
Fleurette’s professional life took her across Canada, most notably to Vancouver, where she spent fifty-five years teaching and inspiring others through music. As a university educator, she trained countless teachers and helped adapt the Kodály method for English-speaking students, as well as for those who were deaf or learning-disabled. Passionate about lifelong learning, she began doctoral studies in music education at the University of British Columbia at the age of 66 and published her dissertation six years later. Sister Fleurette received her PhD in 2002 from UBC.
Fleurette’s teaching career was one big adventure. It all started with a chance meeting with Mary Helen Richards at a music educator’s conference in Nova Scotia in the ’60’s. They became fast friends and developed a teaching partnership that lasted for about 25 years. Fleurette joined Mary Helen in her quest to find out how to teach children music. They were intrigued by the Kodály method. Together they travelled to Hungary to learn more about his methodology. On their return they took Kodály’s advice and searched for and collected numerous folk songs in the English language. Great care was taken to choose songs that honoured the prosody inherent in English. In California they worked and collaborated with classroom teachers and their students to develop an approach to music education that Mary Helen named “Education Through Music” (ETM). Fleurette and Mary Helen taught summer and winter courses throughout the Midwest and Canada. They also had the foresight to start an apprenticeship programme that included Anna Langness, Peggy Bennett, Doug Bartholomew and Annette Coffin.
ETM underwent a significant change in the late 80’s. The membership split and “Music EdVentures,” since renamed “SongWorks Educators Association” (SWEA), was created in 1992. Fleurette was instrumental in its development. In the meantime, Fleurette was also busy at home in Vancouver, British Columbia, working with ELL teachers and their students in the public school system. Her programme, “Singing English,” helped English learners develop fluency and confidence. Fleurette continued to teach courses as well as give workshops throughout British Columbia, the U.S., and Japan. “English EdVentures” was formed by English teachers in Japan and continues to be an affiliate of the SongWorks Educators Association.
Fleurette was a major force in helping SWEA grow. She greatly admired what the younger members were bringing to the organization and wanted to support their efforts. In 2010 the Fleurette Sweeney Fellowship for Emerging Pioneers in Education was established to provide financial assistance to selected early and mid-career teachers. These teachers incorporate the principles and practices of SongWorks into their teaching and are also keen to take on leadership in sharing SongWorks with others.
Those who have been to one of Fleurette’s workshops, taken one of her courses, or enjoyed eating a meal with her came away inspired by her passion for learning, her curious interest in each of her learners and her love of the interplay of music and language. She taught us to watch and learn from the children. Her doctoral dissertation title, “From Sound to Symbol: The Whole Song as Curriculum; The Whole Child as Pedagogue; Observation as Methodology,” captures Fleurette as a teacher beautifully. In turn, Fleurette loved and appreciated her SWEA colleagues very much. She has been heard to say that she couldn’t have been with anyone better than those in the SongWorks family.
In 2017, Sister Fleurette returned to Nova Scotia to reside at Caritas Residence. Though leaving behind decades of friends and colleagues in Vancouver was a profound change, she met it with her trademark good humour and optimism. Ever the student, she continued to take online courses via Zoom and share her musical and educational gifts with others well into her 90’s. Sister Fleurette will be remembered for her radiant joy, her love of creation and for learning, and her unwavering faith. She embodied the Sisters of Charity’s spirit of service through music, teaching, and faith. A talented educator, Fleurette was an exceptional teacher and role model for so many. Music was her prayer, and her life a song of gratitude.
In addition to her parents, Sister Fleurette is predeceased by her sisters Iola (MacEachern), Violet (Archambault), Georgina (Robinson), Frances (MacDonald), Geraldine (Hayes) and Marcelle Sweeney and brothers Reverend Ernest and Douglas Sweeney. She is survived by her brother Hugh (Andrea) of Upper Dyke NS, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and countless teachers and students who were deeply affected by Fleurette’s love of learning and music.
