Sister Mary Demetria Stewart - Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul

Sister Mary Demetria

Elizabeth Stewart

1894 - 1990

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 entered the House of Providence; received the Holy Habit on June 10, 1915; pronounced her First Vows on December 12, 1916, taking the name of Sister Mary Demetria; and made Final Profession on January 5, 1920.

Sister Mary Demetria trained as a nurse at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, Brockville, Ont., from 1918 – 1921 and after graduation, remained working at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital in the Operating Room and as Night Supervisor until 1924. Her career as a nurse also consisted of the following placements:

1924 − 1930 Operating Room Supervisor St. Mary’s Hospital, Camrose, Alta.

1927 − Course “Operating Room Technique”, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

1930 − 1933 Operating Room Supervisor, Providence Hospital, Moose Jaw, Sask.

1933 − 1936 Surgical Floor Supervisor, St. Mary’s Hospital, Montreal, Que.

1936 − 1940 Operating Room Supervisor, St. Mary’s Hospital, Camrose, Alta.

1940 − 1944 Pastoral Care, St. Francis Hospital, Smiths Falls, Ont.

1944 − 1948 Operating Room Supervisors, St. Mary’s Hospital, Camrose, Alta.

1948 − 1949 St. Joseph’s Hospital, Edmonton Alta.

1949 − 1953 St. Mary’s Hospital, Montreal, Que.

1953 – 1958 Providence Hospital, Moose Jaw, Sask.

1958 – 1963 Nursing Supervisor, Holy Family Hospital, Vancouver, B.C.

1963 – 1968 St. Francis Hospital, Smiths Falls, Ont.

1968 – 1971 House of Providence, Kingston, Ont.

1971 – 1972 Providence Motherhouse, Kingston, Ont.

1972 – 1975 St. Francis Hospital, Smiths Falls, Ont.

1975 – 1976 Tweed, Ont.

1976 – 1978 Pastoral Care, St. Mary’s of the Lake, Hospital, Kingston, Ont.

1978 − Retired to Providence Motherhouse.

Sister Mary Demetria died on February 10, 1990, in Marian Infirmary II and was buried on February 13, 1990. The funeral Mass was offered in the chapel of the Immaculate Conception, Providence Motherhouse. The Mass was concelebrated by:

Rev. T.J. Raby, Vicar General – Main Celebrant

Msgr. J.G. Hanley

Rev. D. Clement

Rev. J. Rozon – Homilist

During the testimony of her life, the sisters and her relatives related that Sister Mary Demetria was a very devout and prayerful person; she cared for others, inspired confidence and gave generously of herself; sister, somehow, made you feel that everything was going to be alright; she was a woman of wisdom, compassion, understanding, dedicated service, and open to changes; and she had a great sense of humor and loved to dress up and play jokes on others.

She always kept in close touch with her relatives and for them she was a very special person. They looked forward to visiting with her and looked to her for advice when necessary.