These are not typical obituaries, in fact in the world of consecrated life we refer to them as necrologies. These biographical sketches are written by the General Secretary of the congregation shortly after the death of each individual sister. The necrologies are historical documents and may contain errors, including variations in spellings and incorrect dates. The necrologies are presented here as they were written.
If you would like more information about a deceased sister please contact the archivist.
The late Sister M. Angeline was born in Kitley Township, in the county of Leeds, January 5, 1916, the tenth of twelve children born to Francis Garvin and Maria Bissonnette. She began her early education at the age of seven at the local rural school. Her father was a...
The late Sister Agnes Tapper was born in Torbay, Newfoundland on September 12, 1920. Agnes was one of eleven children born to Mary and Francis Tapper. There were six children before Agnes arrived. Agnes received her early education in Torbay, Newfoundland. As a young...
“My lifelong belief that adversity gives birth to greater depth, greater integrity and the opening of our eyes and hearts to God’s wisdom sustains me.” These words spoken by the late Sister Joan Whittingham are indicative of the deep spiritual life which upheld her...
The late Sister Dorothy Hills was born on June 16, 1915 in Daysland, Alberta, the second child of Catherine (Anderson) and Albion Hills. She had two sisters, Alice who was four years older, and Eileen who was two years younger. When Dorothy was only two her family...
The late Sister Rita Killeen was born on March 2, 1921 in Perth, Ontario. She was the second youngest of eight children to bless the home of Alphonsus and Matilda (Egan). Rita’s father worked in the mine in Timmins while his wife, and her mother, Tillie Egan, looked...
The late Sister Ann Durkin was born Anna (Ann) Lavina Durkin on June 16, 1909 on a farm in Stoco, near Tweed, Ontario. She was one of seven children to bless the home of Edward and Alice (Kehoe). Ann wanted to enter religious life in 1932 but was needed at home...
Dorothy Mary Frances was born in Stirling, Ontario on November 11, 1932, the first child of Kathleen and Joseph O’Neill who were both of Irish Canadian nationality and who faithfully embraced their Roman Catholic faith. Her brother Ronnie, who was to precede her into...
After Sister Helen’s death some people remarked that she must have been very special because she was born on the feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 1924, died on the feast of St. Vincent de Paul September 27, 2001 and was buried on the feast of the Little Flower, on...
Some people make an impression not by their physical size but by the size of their hearts. Sister Hannah was one of these special people. She preached the gospel, simply by the quiet, kind way in which she served others all of her life. Those who were close to Sister...
Mary Isidora Consitt was born on April 28, 1915 on the homestead of Clifton Farm located on the Scotch Line just south of Perth, Ontario. Her father, George Frederick Consitt was the great grandson of the original settler who came from England and her mother, Sarah...
“If you really love people and have a desire to journey with them through the ups and downs, you will love life because you will know that your God is the ever-faithful One who accompanies you on the journey and promises you fullness of life.” These words, to young...
Some people preach the gospel without words, simply by the quiet, faithful example of their lives. Those who were close to Sister Martha described her as being one of these special followers of Jesus. Sister, who died suddenly of cardiac arrest in Regina General...
Always a woman of faith and prayer, one of Sister Dorothy’s last requests shortly before she died on August 30, 2000 was to be given her breviary. However, since her hands would no longer hold this precious book, she freely put it aside. This gesture was symbolic of...
After a long and fruitful life, Sister Helen Collins died August 16, 2000 at Providence Motherhouse. She was eighty-seven years young. Helen Elizabeth Collins, daughter of John Collins and Louise Grimes, was born in Carlsbad Springs, Ontario, December 10, 1913. She...
The life of Sister Mary Giroux (Lalonde), of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, Kingston, could read like a high powered work of fiction. She indeed had a rich and varied life. Born in North Bay in 1911, Mary Josephine Lalonde was the eldest of ten...
Martha Helena McKenna, born on September 8, 1910 at Merrickville, Ontario, was the seventh of nine children born to Christopher McKenna and Anna (O’Connor). Sister Martha, as she was called at the time of her death on March 7, was the last surviving member of her...
Mary Isabella Barrow was born on May 10, 1899 in Central Lake, Michigan USA, and what a long fruitful life she led. Her parents, Joseph Barrow and Rebecca (Ferguson), had nine other children, three more girls and six boys. Providence in the form of Sister’s...
After a long and fruitful life, Sister Mary Annette died August 29, 1999 at Providence Motherhouse. She was eighty-eight years old. Anne Mary, daughter of John Kennedy and Mary Elizabeth (Williams), was born in Belleville, Ontario, November 14, 1910. Her father, a...
Sister Mary Joanna died August 25, 1999 at St. Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital, Edmonton AB. In accordance with her wishes, Sister was waked and buried in Edmonton. Amelia Voytechek was born on Easter Sunday, April 23, 1916 in Mountain Park, AB. Her parents Michael and...
Although small in stature like Zaccheus of old, Sister Olive Gibbons, formerly Sister Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, was a great friend of Jesus and some would say a giant in the spiritual life. In her 94th year, the last surviving member of her immediate family, Sister...
