Jeanne Le Ber

Family and education[edit]

Jeanne Le Ber was born in Ville-Marie (Montreal), on January 4, 1662. As a daughter of Jeanne Le Moyne and Jacques Le Ber, Jeanne was raised within a wealthy and influential family; her mother was a sister of Charles Le Moyne. Jeanne Le Ber was baptized the day she was born by Gabriel Souart, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve being her godfather and Jeanne Mance her godmother.^[1]


She took an early interest in the spiritual life of the community and was a frequent visitor with her godmother, Jeanne Mance at the Hôtel-Dieu. She also had a friendship with Marguerite Bourgeoys, the foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame, who influenced her spiritual life. To complete the formal education she spent three years, 1674 to 1677, as a boarder with the Ursulines of Quebec where her aunt, Marie Le Ber de l’Annonciation, taught. At the age of 15, she returned to her family in Montreal.^[1]


As the only daughter (she had three younger brothers) of Jacques Le Ber, with a dowry of approximately 50,000 écus, she was rightly considered the most eligible girl in New France.^[1]