Obituaries

From the first member of the congregation to pass away in 1870 to recent deaths, all the obituaries of deceased Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul are accessible and searchable. You can search by name, or use the birth date, death date and location filters.

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 The necrologies are historical documents and may contain errors, including variations in spellings and incorrect dates.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.

Sister Mary Vincent McDonnell

Sister Mary Vincent McDonnell

Little did the Sisters dream as the joyous notes of the Alleluia rang out on Easter morn, April 17, 1927 that, these were to be soon to be followed by the doleful knell of the “De Profundis”. Mother Vincent attended all the religious services of Holy Week, and with...

Sister Mary Imelda Murphy

Sister Mary Imelda Murphy

Sister Mary Imelda known in the world as Lucy Murphy was the daughter of Thomas and Johanna Murphy of the parish of Marysville. She was born Sept. 13, 1869. When she wrote December 1911 asking admission into our Novitiate and enclosing a recommendation from her...

Sister Mary Ignatius McMahon

Sister Mary Ignatius McMahon

Our dear Lord has His own time and manner of calling labourers into His vineyard. He selects one here, and another a hundred miles distant, a third in a far-off land and so on. How strange it seems at times! The subject of our sketch, Elizabeth McMahon was the first...

Sister Mary Leo Tierney

Sister Mary Leo Tierney

Sister Mary Leo whose name in the world was Elizabeth Tierney was born November 17, 1874. She was the daughter of Michael and Ellen Tierney living in the vicinity of Ottawa, near Easton Springs. Recommended by her Reverend Pastor, she sought for and obtained admission...

Sister Mary Catherine O’Connor

Sister Mary Catherine O’Connor

Sister Mary Catherine O’Connor, was born Ireland, March 1, 1860. At the age of twenty-five years she entered our Novitiate from Holyoke, Mass. on May 5, 1885. Proving herself very earnest, faithful and generous, she was advanced to the Reception of the Holy Habit...

Sister Mary Helena Joyce

Sister Mary Helena Joyce

Sister Mary Helena whose name in the world was Catherine Mabel Joyce, was the daughter of Richard and Ellen Joyce of the Parish of Railton. On May 24, 1900, at the age of nineteen years, she entered our Novitiate having previously graduated from Notre Dame Convent....

Sister Mary Elizabeth Stafford

Sister Mary Elizabeth Stafford

What stability of character, what tenacity of purpose, what deep spirituality marked the early Foundresses of our Community. Having left the world and all that it contained behind them, they came freely and willingly to devote themselves to God's Service. No sacrifice...

Sister Mary Francis de Sales Candon

Sister Mary Francis de Sales Candon

On June 12, 1924 there passed from our midst one of our number of who it can be said in truth, "She was indeed a good Religious". So impressed was she from the beginning of her Religious life, and no doubt, long before her entrance into it, with the importance of the...

Sister Mary Urban Coleman

Sister Mary Urban Coleman

On the 10th day of May 1916, there came to the Providence for entrance into our Novitiate a bright little lady. Acting under the advice of Rev. J.L. Cotter, S.J. she had obtained permission for this initial step in the Religious life some months before. Elizabeth...

Sister Mary Edmund Scott

Sister Mary Edmund Scott

The death of Sister Mary Edmund, House of Providence, on Saturday, May 26th, has called to a better life a glowing example of self-sacrificing devotion to all conditions of suffering humanity. While her work was not performed in the lime light, to be applauded by the...

Sister Mary Thomas Murphy

Sister Mary Thomas Murphy

“When we shall die, or where we shall die, God alone can tell.” The truths of these words were brought home to our beloved Sister Mary Thomas and to us all on that eventful day Monday March 26, 1923. At 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the telephone rang, “A message from...

Sister Mary Bernarda Morrisey

Sister Mary Bernarda Morrisey

Our Divine Lord has His own time and manner of calling labourers into His vineyard, also, does he stipulate the length of time each may give to His service. It sometimes happens that one feels an attraction to the Religious Life, would like to embrace it, but owing to...

Sister Mary Jane de Chantal McAuley

Sister Mary Jane de Chantal McAuley

We marvel at what the founders and foundresses of Religious Orders of necessity have passed through and endured. Their lives of devotedness, of generous self-sacrifice are an example, a stimulus to those who come after them. The subject of this sketch, though not...

Sister Mary Frances Teresa Golan

Sister Mary Frances Teresa Golan

Recalling the circumstances connected with the admission of this person into our Novitiate, we cannot but be again impressed with the power of persevering prayer. As a young girl she had occasion to come to Kingston several times to receive treatment from the...

Sister Mary Amable Leroux

Sister Mary Amable Leroux

As the writer repeats this name, she thinks of a beautiful soul embellished by nature with many virtues, childish simplicity, charming manners, kindness of heart, sympathy for the afflicted, great generosity, readiness to assist where help was needed. These, with many...

Sister Mary Bertille Coyle

Sister Mary Bertille Coyle

On Monday Evening October 16, 1922, the Community was surprised and shocked by the sudden departure of their cherished little Sister – Sister Mary Bertille. Stricken with Appendicitis, she was moved to the Hotel Dieu Hospital on Sunday October 8th where an operation...

Sister Mary Bernarda Morrisey

Sister Mary Majella Coughlin

Late in November, 1906, Miss Elizabeth Coughlin of Toronto arrived at the Providence, and humbly requested admission into our Novitiate. Her parents and family were well and favourably known to many of our senior Sisters for they formerly belonged to this Diocese - to...

Sister Mary Estella Kennedy

Sister Mary Estella Kennedy

On the feast of the Annunciation 1908, a bright young girl arrives at the House of Providence for entrance into our Novitiate, permission for which having been granted a month previous. This person was Margaret Estella Kennedy of Centreville, Ont. who became after our...

Sister Mary Veronica Tierney

Sister Mary Veronica Tierney

Early in August 1918, when Sister Mary Veronica returned from her mission, Arnprior, where she had been teaching the previous year, she made known to the Superior General her anxiety, because a small growth on her breast, which making its appearance a couple of months...

Sister Mary Audry McGuire

Sister Mary Audry McGuire

To have many young ladies ask and receive admission into the Novitiate of an order, is always a source of joy and congratulation for its members, for, they feel that after they, themselves, are no longer able for duty, and have passed to their reward, the good work...