Born Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers on October 17, 1933 at 2:25pm in Brussels, Belgium
Died at the Green Horizons apartment building on March 29, 1985 of suicide in Wavre, Belgium. Discovered on April 1.
The world only knew the smiling nun who captured the attention of Ed Sullivan, the woman in the white habit who sweetly strummed her guitar, Sister Adele. Her real name and face was not revealed to the public.
His broadcast from Fichermont convent in 1964 was the first of its kind and introduced the public to the elusive world of cloistered nuns.
The song Dominique topped the Billboard chart in 1963.
Photo from The Singing Nun Story. Taken by Alain Clossen
Green Horzons apartment building at 144 Chaussee de Bruxelles, Wavre Belgium
Deckers committed suicide in apartment 47 B along with Annie Pécher .
Jeannine Deckers' companion of 25 years, Annie Pécher . Annie's book on psychomotor therapy with autistic children is still being used as a reference tool.
Pécher commited suicide with Deckers in their apartment in 1985.
Loyola University in Chicago would like to have the collection for their Women and Leaders archives. Dr. Beth Myers is currently trying to obtain the documents on loan. This will be a great opportunity for reseachers and fans everywhere.
Dr. Beth Myers
Director of Women and Leadership Archives
Loyola University Chicago • Piper Hall • 1032 W. Sheridan Road • Chicago, IL 60660
Jeannine Deckers and Annie Pécher in the workshop near Annie's school where Jeannine painted and assisted with classes.
Performing as Luc Dominique
Soeur Sourire
Watercolor Prints Signed by Sr. Luc Gabriel
Many fans have contacted me through the years asking about watercolor prints signed by Sr. Luc Gabriel depicting convent life. Some prints have the intitals SLG.
They are indeed painted by Soeur Sourire while she was a novice at Fichermont convent. The prints are of good quality making many believe they are originals , however, the Dominican order owns the original paintings.
The prints were included in the first two record albums released in the United States in 1964, Dominique and Her Joy, Her Songs.
