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 The necrologies are historical documents and may contain errors, including variations in spellings and incorrect dates.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.
Ann Whalen was born in Hungerford, Ont. on January 8, 1897, and was baptized on January 24. She was one of fourteen children born to Sara McGrath and William Whalen. At the age of 15, Ann Whalen wanted to enter the Congregation of St. Joseph but was told that she was...
Philomena Martina Genore was born in Otter Creek, Ontario, on the 13 of October, 1909, one of nine children born to Albert Genore of Sorel, Que., and Mary Courneyea of Tweed. Philomena changed her name to Phyllis for personal reasons. Phylllis had Grade IX education...
Mary Stella Masterson, one of nine children of James Masterson and Ellen Foley, was born on November 22, 1903, in Chesterville, Ont. Mr. James Masterson attended elementary school in Cannaught and on reaching adulthood, he decided to make his way in the world. He and...
Honoria (Nora) Kyle was born on January 16, 1888, in Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland. She was one of nine children born to Richard Kyle and Bridget Campbell. Four of the girls became Sisters – two in the U.S.A., one in Ireland and Sister Nora here in Kingston. As a...
Irene Isobel Carter was born in Montreal, Quebec, on September 30, 1897 (the day on which St. Therese Lisieux died) and was baptized on October 3. She was the second eldest of eight children born to Thomas Joseph Carter and Mary Agnes Kerr. This illustrious family...
Elizabeth Marguerite Steward was born in Madoc, Ontario, on August19, 1894, one of seven children born to John Stafford Stewart and Mary Elizabeth Burns. Before entering, Elizabeth Marguerite had Grade X education and studied millinery. On August 15, 1914, she...
Mary Elizabeth Howell was born in Madoc, Ontario, On January 3, 1907, baptized on January 25, 1907, and confirmed in Marysville on October 3, 1920. She was one of 11 children born to Elizabeth McNamara and Andrew Howell. Mr. Howell was a farmer and the family lived in...
Mary Hawkins was born in Tweed, Ontario, on April 19, 1891, one of nine children of Michael Hawkins and Alice Murphy. Mr. Hawkins was a dairy farmer and gave that up to go into general farming. Mary Hawkins had Grade X education when she entered, having attended...
Margaret Mary Frances Lamarche was born in Kingston, Ontario, on the 18th day of May, 1907, and baptized at the Cathedral Parish in Kingston on May 20th, 1907. In her family, she was known as Marie and is one of eight children of Joseph Adelard (known by everyone as...
In July, 1988, when the first Directory of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul was published, in the information alongside Sister Wilhelmina O’Hearn’s photograph these words appeared: “Personal interests…cheering up depressed and upset Sisters. My...
Sister Carol Cornish (Mary Carol Ann Cornish) of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, died at Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston Ontario, on January 23, 1989, in the 36th of her religious life. She is lovingly remembered by her brother, James, and his wife,...
“Her name, ‘Fidelma’, seemed to sum up her life of gentleness in nature, littleness in notice, but thoroughness in service.” In these words Father Tom Raby, in the funeral homily attempted to capture the essence of the life of Sister Mary Fidelma (Pickett), Sister of...
Mary Martha McKenna was born on June 6, 1888, at Burritts Rapids, Ontario. She was the last child of Thomas Christopher McKenna and Mary Ann Kenny. Having eight sisters and two brothers she belonged to the typically large family of those days homesteading in rural...
Sister Mary Matilda (Marshall) was buried on the feast of St. Lawrence, a famous deacon/martyr of the early church. In retrospect this seemed very fitting, for it was discovered after her death that she had in her own quiet way given a special assistance and support...
On May 31, 1924, the Providence Motherhouse annalist recorded the arrival at Kingston of “the first young lady from Nfld”. One might ask how Providence brought that about, since none of our Sisters lived or worked in that East Coast Island. The story of Bridget Mary...
In the early 1900’s John O’Sullivan came with his wife, Ellen (Sullivan) and their ten children from Ireland to Montreal. His mother had been anxious for him to join the rest of the family in Canada. The O’Sullivan’s arrived in summer, but their troop of young ones...
“I think the primary aim of our Institute, according to our founder, is works of charity - not so in much giving money, as in giving ourselves.” Sister Mary Viola Cobey not only wrote these words, she lived by them. Perhaps the most striking example of her...
“Eternal Beginning, Creative Spirit,Recreate me!You Who have begun me,Complete me.” In the later years of her life, Sister Patricia Rashotte used this intense prayer to plead for God’s help in finishing the work of her sanctification. The invitation to full union with...
Rose Marie Catherine Scanlan was born on January 13, 1929, in Belleville and was baptized just one week later at St. Michael’s Church. She was the only daughter of Terence V. Scanlan and Rose Alice Fahey and obviously her father’s favourite. Her brothers recall that...
On the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1921, Kathleen Cecilia Desjardins entered the Sisters of Charity of the House of Providence. She was only sixteen years of age. About two weeks later she was asked by a relative of another sixteen year old to “look after” the...
