Sister Martha’s life-long passion was education and her love was literature. As a Sister of Charity, she lived the legacy of Elizabeth Ann Seton, saint and educator, all throughout her life in ministry. She began as a teacher of elementary school children at Resurrection-Ascension School in New York and Saint Patrick School in Dorval, Quebec. From there she was missioned to Our Lady’s School, Vancouver, British Columbia where she taught high school and also served as girls’ Guidance Counselor, Librarian and Choir Director. Her next move was to Halifax, Nova Scotia to teach at Saint Patrick High School before entering the collegiate level at Mount Saint Vincent University, in Halifax, where she served as Professor of English, Department Chair and Professor Emeritus for nineteen of her sixty-five years in education. Returning home to Boston, Sister Martha served as adjunct professor at Stonehill College, Easton, MA and Massasoit College, Brockton, MA. She taught English at the former Elizabeth Seton Academy, Dorchester, MA and adults seeking to learn English at Casserly House, Roslindale, MA. Retiring to Marillac Residence at Mount Saint Vincent, Wellesley, MA, Martha pursued the path of Spiritual Direction, involvement with the Associates of the Sisters of Charity and, ever the teacher, offered classes in Poetry, Journaling and Creative Writing to the residents.

Sister Joanne was a lifelong learner. She was creative, curious, artistic, imaginative and multi-talented. Her joy in ministry as a Sister of Charity was in teaching young children, which she did for forty-five years. As well as her degree in Education from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sister Joanne earned a master's degree in communication arts from Notre Dame University. She was among the first to employ the use of audio-visual media in her classrooms. Her teaching journey took her from Riverton, New Jersey to Amherst and Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. Returning to the States, she served in Randoph, MA and Manchester, NH. Before completing her ministry in education, Sister Joanne was missioned to Hamilton, Bermuda, where she taught Elementary school students for twelve years. Retiring to Mount Saint Vincent, Wellesley, MA, she continued her mission as a Sister of Charity making the love of God visible by serving as an Assistant Activity Director, where she provided weekly classes in crafts, gardening, computer skills and fine arts. For 35 years she taught school, primarily at St Stephen’s Junior High School in Halifax, NS. A year after she retired from teaching in 1994, she began her second labour of love, her ministry of caring and advocating for her elder Sisters as Coordinator at Mother Berchmans Residence. In 2003 she negotiated and pioneered the wide scale move of the many senior Sisters relocation to Parkstone Enhanced Care. In 2008, she once again led the charge in advocacy for the senior Sisters in their move to Caritas Residence, the retirement home for the Sisters of Charity-Halifax until she retired in 2018.

Sister Pat’s life was a profound witness to faith, service, and courage. Born in Boston, she loved her American roots, yet it was in Halifax, especially the North End, that she found her true home. Proudly calling herself a “northender,” she embraced the people and the spirit of the community with warmth and devotion. For 35 years she taught school, primarily at St Stephen’s Junior High School in Halifax, NS. A year after she retired from teaching in 1994, she began her second labour of love, her ministry of caring and advocating for her elder Sisters as Coordinator at Mother Berchmans Residence. In 2003 she negotiated and pioneered the wide scale move of the many senior Sisters relocation to Parkstone Enhanced Care. In 2008, she once again led the charge in advocacy for the senior Sisters in their move to Caritas Residence, the retirement home for the Sisters of Charity-Halifax until she retired in 2018.

Following her profession, Sister Clare’s career focused on caring for the sick, beginning her nursing career in 1959 as a Registered Nurse at the Halifax Infirmary. In 1961, she obtained her Diploma in Nursing and Supervision from Dalhousie University. A dedicated nurse, Sister Clare stayed current with advances in nursing technology to provide the best possible care throughout her entire career. This commitment led to her specialization in Radiology at St. Louis University in 1963. She later worked as an X-ray Technician at the Halifax Infirmary from 1966 to 1970. A native of Edmonton, Sister Clare returned to her roots to serve the Province of Alberta as a nurse. In 1971, Sister Clare began her tenure as Director of Nursing at Immaculata Hospital in Westlock, Alberta—a place she often remembered fondly. She cherished the friendships and connections she made during her time there. While at Immaculata Hospital, Sister Clare worked alongside other Sisters of Charity–Halifax, who were known for “running a tight ship and stretching the dollar to remarkable levels” to ensure that every patient received the care they deserved. They led their ministry with kindness, empathy, and comfort that deeply touched both patients and healthcare providers. Sister Clare provided twenty years of service in the community of Westlock, leaving a legacy of care and humane service that endures today. In her semi-retirement, she served as Provincial Treasurer for the Western Provinces from 1992 to 1996. In 2008, Sister Clare returned to Nova Scotia to reside at Caritas Residence. Though her nursing ministry had ended, she continued to serve her community as a Finance Assistant in the Halifax Office of the Sisters of Charity Centre.

Her professional life took her across the country, 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 received her she began doctoral studies in music education at the University of BC at the age of 66 and published her dissertation six years later. Sister Fleurette received her PhD in 2002 from UBC. 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.

Sister Maureen Elizabeth served almost her entire life of active ministry as a Sister of Charity in New York. She was born to teach and as a teacher, she launched innumerable first graders on their educational paths for sixty-one years. Sister Maureen began her teaching journey at Sacred Heart School in Riverton, NJ, moving then to Resurrection-Ascension School in Rego Park, NY. From there, she taught at Saint Sebastian School in Woodside, NY and then at Saint Aidan School in Williston Park, NY. She was involved in the life of every parish in which she resided as a Religious Education teacher and a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound. During the summers, she volunteered for seventeen summers in the Brooklyn Diocese program for mentally challenged children, as a staff member and coordinator. For many years, Sister Maureen also served as a volunteer in the Hospice Program at Mercy Hospital, Rockville Centre, NY. In 1996, Sister Maureen joined the staff at Women Helping Women, a residence for women and children struggling to survive experiences of domestic violence.

Sister Barbara's ministries as a Sister of Charity, Halifax, spanned the gamut of ages from tiny tots to senior citizens. Her first thirty years saw her teaching at Saint Francis of Assisi School in Medford, MA, the former Monsignor Ryan Memorial High School in Dorchester, MA, Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, MA and Aquinas Junior College, Newton, MA. Following this, Sister Barbara served in Congregational Ministry as Formation Coordinator for the then Boston Province of the Sisters of Charity, Halifax, for eight years, during which time, she also was a member of the Provincial Council and served on several congregational committees. Changing with the changing times, Sister Barbara turned to pastoral ministry. She served as a Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Quincy, MA, where she began a Tots and Moms Program, among others, and then as Services Coordinator for Wollaston Lutheran Church Social Services in Quincy, MA, at two Senior Citizen Homes.

Sister Gertrude began her ministry in housekeeping in 1949, work which took her to Quebec, New York, Halifax, Alberta, and British Columbia. In 1971, in Burnaby BC, Sister Gertrude became the Director of Catechetics, and in 1975, the Coordinator of Lay Ministries and Adult Education. In 1981, Sister began work at the Seton House of Prayer in Summerland BC, work she dearly loved. During her time there, she earned her certificate in Retreats and Pastoral Ministry from Notre Dame, Indiana, and her certificate in Active Spirituality for a Global Community from Mount St. Joseph in Ohio. In 1987, she was missioned to Bathurst, New Brunswick as a diocesan Pastoral Coordinator before returning to BC in 1991 as the Director at Seton House of Prayer, which had then moved from Summerland to Kelowna.

Sister Rose James was a woman of service and simplicity, as well as a great storyteller. Her primary ministry was teaching, commencing in Lawrence, MA at Saint Patrick School. She also served at Saint Kevin School in Dorchester, MA, The Academy of the Assumption, Wellesley, MA, Saint Brigid Home in Quebec, Sacred Heart School in Kimberly, British Columbia, Resurrection-Ascension School and Our Lady of the Angels School in New York and Saint Francis of Assisi School, Medford, MA. Following her years in the classroom, Sister Rose James served in the Activity Department of Elizabeth Seton Residence in Wellesley, MA for several years and managed the Congregation's Mission Cards project, for both Boston and New York. Along with her teaching, Sister served in the parishes, where she ministered as a sacristan, Religious Education teacher and Eucharistic Minister. She was a gifted source of the history of the Congregation, the Sisters of Charity, Halifax, which she shared joyfully, lovingly and generously.