Sister Mary Philomena Brennan

Jane Brennan
1874 - 1951

Sister Mary Philomena died at the House of Providence, Kingston, on Tuesday, June 26, 1951, after a prolonged illness. She was the former Mary Jane Brennan, a native of Marysville, Ontario. Sister entered the Novitiate in 1896 and after the usual probation period as postulant and novice she was admitted to profession in 1898.

Her first appointment as a young Sister was to St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, Brockville when that institution was in its infancy. Sister liked hospital work and to be a nurse would have been her own choice, but her Superiors decided that she should qualify for teaching. She accordingly took up teaching and spent her life in the education of youth. She taught in different parishes throughout the archdiocese, Belleville, Perth, Smiths Falls, Tweed, Trenton, and Arnprior.

In 1949 Sister celebrated the Golden Jubilee of her religious profession. Suffering as she then was from impaired health of mind and body she scarcely appreciated her privilege, nor did she enjoy the festivities with her companions. God’s ways are not ours. This cross at the close of her life would seem His way of leading her to the sanctity she always sought to attain.

Among her numerous surviving relatives are three nieces at the Hotel Dieu, i.e. Sisters Brennan, Jerome and Catherine. Interment took place in St. Mary’s Cemetery.