Sister Mary George Marsh

Matilda Marsh
1878 - 1949

On Thursday afternoon, February 3, 1949, Sister Mary George died, after a prolonged illness of several months, at St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital.

Sister who was the former Matilda Marsh, was a native of England, coming to Canada as an orphan when very young. She entered at the House of Providence as an auxiliary Sister. Later, in 1907, she was admitted into the Novitiate and was professed in 1909.

She spent practically all her religious life caring for the orphans at St. Mary’s of the lake and aged and infirm at the House of Providence. She was most devoted to the poor and had a motherly interest in the little orphans, always ready to do them kindness and attend to their needs. She had a sweet, well-trained voice and, in her young days, sang in the choir, delighting her audience while singing the praises of God.

She was prayerful and tried to make good use of her long, trying days of illness. She had a serious heart condition and suffered greatly from spells of weakness. Like so many others afflicted in the same way, death came suddenly while she was alone.

The confessor (a Redemptorist) when speaking of Sister after she died, did not hesitate to state candidly his belief that she was very saintly, holy person. His Grace celebrated Pontifical Requiem Mass for the repose of her soul. She was buried from the chapel of Our Mother of Sorrows, House of Providence, Kingston. Sister had spent forty-two years in religion. May her soul rest in peace!

Addendum – Compiled by the Archives on June 17, 2015

Matilda Marsh entered the congregation as a Tertiary Sister in 1897 and was known as Sr. Mary. Tertiaries were auxiliaries who performed domestic labour and were part of the Congregation from 1895 to 1907, when the program was phased out and they were invited to enter the novitiate. She entered the Novitiate on November 21 1907. 

For more information on Matilda Marsh’s life as an English orphan read her home child profile.