Obituary to come

Following her first profession, Sister Blanche was missioned to Sydney, NS, where she was a housekeeper at the Hamilton Hospital. Throughout her long and devoted life, Sister Blanche dedicated herself to the care and nourishment of others—both physically and spiritually. After receiving her Certificate in Dietary Administration for Food Service Managers, she served faithfully as a food service manager in Nova Scotia, Alberta, Quebec, and Massachusetts. Her work was not only a profession but a ministry through which she expressed her deep commitment to serving others. Whether preparing meals or maintaining the warmth and order of her surroundings, she brought dignity and grace to every task. In 1982, Sister Blanche was missioned in Bathurst, NB, where she attended to the hearts of the poor at the Sacred Heart Convent. There, she combined her professional skills with her spiritual calling—attending to convent duties while ensuring that those in need were fed and cared for. Her kitchen was a place of welcome; her hands worked not only with flour and dough but with love and intention.

Margaret wanted to be a nurse, however, when she made her vows as a Sister of Charity in 1943, the Sisters needed teachers so she was sent to Dorchester, MA, to teach grade two for three years. She went on to teach in Halifax, and Glace Bay. Sister Margaret taught for 38 years, her final class the grade eight boys at Saint Stephen’s School in Halifax. After her retirement, Sister Margaret served as Provincial Treasurer for six years, then turned to her first love, and began 21 years of service as a volunteer in nursing homes and hospitals in Halifax. She considered it a privilege to work in the Palliative Care unit. The people that she met there, both other volunteers and patients, opened her mind, she said, to the depth of faith and spirituality to be found in all religions. In 2009, Sister Margaret moved to Caritas Residence, where she continued her ministry with the sick for several years.

Sister Maureen's life in ministry was marked by her unwavering commitment to the poor. As a consummate educator, she began teaching at Saint Joseph School, Needham, MA. From there, she spent her entire life in ministry at Saint Peter School, Monsignor Ryan Memorial High School, both in Dorchester, MA and Saint Patrick Grammar and High Schools in Roxbury, MA, as a teacher and Vice Principal and Principal. Wherever she was missioned, she coached sports teams, taught Religious Education classes and found herself involved in congregational and parish liturgical services, as an accomplished guitarist and organist.

Following her first profession, Sister Ann was missioned to Patchogue, NY, where she supervised students and taught Catechism and sewing in Home Economics classes. Sister Ann was so gifted in sewing and design, when she returned from NY to Mount Saint Vincent Academy, the Leadership at the time asked her to redesign the habit to adapt to the changing times of the Church. She worked with a company in Newfoundland who made the habits, she designed. Sister Ann also designed the coifs and made them both by hand and by machine for all the Sisters. Sister Ann received her hairdressing certificate and studied Business in Halifax, NS. In 1970, she began work at the Dartmouth Vocational School in the Department of Student Services. She began working at NSCC in Financial Administration where she continued to work until her retirement in 1996. Following her retirement, she worked at the Motherhouse in Finance and assisted in Hospitality into her 90’s. Over her many years, she also volunteered at the Halifax Infirmary and Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Hospital doing hospital ministry.

Sister Patricia graduated with a B.SC. in Elementary Education from Mount St. Vincent University. She was first missioned in 1955 to teach in Boston, then moved on to teach in North Sydney, Reserve, New Waterford and Glace Bay. Sister taught school for 37 years. In 1983 she received her certificate in Religious Education for the University College of Cape Breton. Sister Pat did parish work, visiting homes and working on church committees helping when and where she was needed. She always encouraged people to do their best. Sister Patricia retired from teaching in 1992 and was invited to go to the Motherhouse in Halifax to work in hospital ministry care which was a joy as she always had an interest in nursing and became the Coordinator of Assisted Living. After the Motherhouse closed, Sister Patricia volunteered at Parkstone to minister to elderly Sisters for over 10 years. She was extremely good to seniors.

Sister Mildred's ministries spanned a spectrum of ages. She began her teaching ministry with fourth grade students at Our Lady Help of Christians School in Brooklyn, NY. From there, she was missioned to Saint Patrick's High School in Roxbury, MA. Having received a Master's Degree in Counseling, Sister Mildred served as a counselor at Saint Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing. Then, responding to a need at Saint Patrick's Grammar School, she returned there to teach grades six and seven. In 1977, she was appointed as the Personnel Director for the Sisters of Charity in the Boston area. This assignment was followed by her appointment as Director of Novices for Boston and New York. Upon completing these ministries, Sister Mildred took a position as Pastoral Minister at Aquinas College in Milton, MA and then became the Director of Campus Ministry at Regis College in Weston, MA, until her retirement in 2005. In her retirement, she continued to share her gifts as a guidance counselor at Saint Angela School in Mattapan, MA and at Our Lady Help of Christians and Mission Grammar Schools in Roxbury, MA. Again, responding to a need, Sister Mildred served briefly as interim principal of the former Elizabeth Seton Academy, Dorchester, MA. Throughout her life, Sister Mildred's response to God's call was always a resounding "yes". Her warm and compassionate presence made the love of God visible and tangible to every person in any and every place she was missioned.

Sister Roberta received her B.Sc. in Elementary Education in BC in 1964, her B.A. from Mount Saint Vincent University in 1970, and in 1972 received her Registered Nursing Diploma from the Edmonton General Hospital School of Nursing. In 1993 she received a Certificate in Gerontological Nursing, with distinction, from Grant MacEwan Community College in Alberta. Her early career was spent teaching in Vancouver BC as well as in Halifax. Shortly after graduating from Nursing School she devoted the rest of career to nursing, working at St Vincent Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital in BC, at the St. Vincent Motherhouse in Halifax, and in Edmonton at the Lynnwood Care Centre. In 1996, Sister Roberta was missioned to Dominican Republic where she spent 14 years nursing until she retired in 2010.

Sister Maureen's life in ministry was multi-faceted. She began as a teacher in both Yarmouth and Halifax, Nova Scotia and Arvida, Quebec. Returning to New York, she served as a teacher, music educator and Music Consultant for the Catholic Schools in Brooklyn, NY. She served as a Campus Minister at Queens College, NY and Rutger's University, in New Jersey. As time moved on, Sister Maureen broadened her ministry acquiring a doctoral degree from Saint John's University, NY in Psychology, specializing in Substance Abuse Rehabilitation and Counseling. She worked briefly at Elmhurst Hospital as a unit supervisor of the Methadone Clinic and, after her retirement, volunteered at the Staten Island University Hospital. Sister Maureen established the Sisters of Charity Associates on Staten Island. Retreat work was at the heart of Sister Maureen's ministry, primarily at Mount Manresa Retreat House on Staten Island, where she was an Administrative Director, retreat and spiritual director and coordinator of spiritual programs. Perhaps the pinnacle of her life in ministry is best captured in her response to the terror attack of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. Sister Maureen along with Sister Grazyna Michniewicz, SC served as chaplains for the NYPD and NYFD at Ground Zero and the salvage site on Staten Island where they offered respite, counselling and rest at Mount Manresa.

Sister Mildred was missioned at Saint Nicholas of Tolentine School in Jamaica, NY, where she taught junior high school students for fourteen years. She moved to Saint Francis Preparatory School (formerly Bishop Reilly High School) in Fresh Meadows, NY, where she served as a school psychologist for over twenty years. Sister Mildred also had a private practice, offering psychotherapy for children, adolescents and adults. She also served as the Director of the Religious Consultation Service of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, where she offered referrals to religious individuals seeking help, as well as leaders of the various congregation serving the diocese. Through her warm and compassionate presence, Sister Mildred made the love of God visible and tangible to every person and in every situation she encountered.