Sister Nancy Wilson

Sister Mary Theresa Anne
1932 - 2013

Sister Nancy Wilson (Sr. M. Theresa Anne), former General Superior of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, died at Kingston General Hospital on November 14, 2013 in the 62nd year of her religious life.

She was born in Perth on July 22, 1932 the fourth of ten children of Ruberta Mary White and William Alfred Wilson. She entered the postulancy on February 2, 1952 and made her First Profession of vows two years later.

Her teaching career took her from St. Joseph’s School in Arnprior to St. Peter’s School, Kingston; St. Carthagh’s, Tweed; St. Mary’s, Chesterville; and St. Gregory’s, Picton. She was principal and local superior in Chesterville and Picton.

After a year of study at the University of Windsor, she moved into high school at St. Francis School in Smiths Falls. In 1975 she returned to Arnprior as principal of the school. In 1978 she elected to the General Council but remained in Arnprior until 1985 at which time she was elected General Superior. During her term of office the Associate Program was initiated.

At the completion of her term of office as General Superior in 1989, she studied at Regis College in Toronto and earned a Masters of Theological Studies. She returned to Arnprior to work in pastoral ministry at St. John Chrysostom Parish until she moved to Kingston in 2009.

She was then assigned as Coordinator of one of the local Community groups at the Motherhouse and was also a member of the Process of Membership Committee.

Sister Nancy made many friends in the different communities where she served many of whom were the recipients of her care and attention. She was tireless and unrelenting in her service to the poor and marginalized.

Sister Nancy is predeceased by her parents, her brothers, John, William and Paul. She is survived by her brothers, Gerald (Irma) of Regina and Robert of Kitchener and by her sisters, Betty Patterson of Ottawa, Sister Irene of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul of Kingston, Marlene (Jim) Lynch of Omaha, Nebraska and Sue (Neil) Alder of Smiths Falls.  She will be fondly remembered by her family, her many friends, and by the members of her religious congregation.

The Mass of Christian Burial, held in the Chapel of Mary Mother of Compassion, Providence Motherhouse, Kingston, on Monday, November 18 was presided over by Most Rev. Brendan M. O’Brien, Archbishop of Kingston, assisted by members of the clergy. Rev. Patrick Dobec, a good friend and former pastor of St. John Chrysostom, Arnprior was the homilist. Several members of the clergy from the Diocese of Pembroke as well as many family members and friends were in attendance.