Sr. Wilma Best
1944-2018
Sister Wilma Best, formerly Sister Mary Lucina, 74, a Sister
of St. Martha of Antigonish, died at Mary’s Court, Parkland
Antigonish, on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 in the 53rd year of her
religious life.
Her place of birth was Cheticamp, Nova Scotia,
and Dingwall, Nova Scotia was her home. Sr. Wilma was the
oldest of two daughters born to Wilfred Roy and Mae (Duggan)
Best.
Sister Wilma entered the Congregation of the
Sisters of St. Martha on September 15, 1962. She pronounced
her first temporary vows on August 15, 1965 and her perpetual vows on
July 2, 1970. In 1970 she received her Junior Diploma in
Education from St. Francis Xavier University, adding a further Diploma
in Special Education from Dalhousie University, Halifax, in 1974. In
1981 she graduated with a BA and BEd from St. Francis
Xavier. Sister Wilma taught in several areas in which the
Congregation was present. In Nova Scotia, she taught in Guysborough
County, Pictou County, and Eskasoni. She also taught in Fort McMurray,
AB. Her devotion to students who needed more assistance and a
different approach to learning was evident in the many fond memories
and stories that she shared. Sister Wilma moved more fully
into Parish Ministry and received a Diploma in Parish Liturgy from
Saint Paul University, Ottawa, in 1996. From the early
1990’s until 2009, her gifts were shared in several parishes
in the Diocese of Antigonish as well as in Chaplaincy at Cape Breton
University. She also served the congregation in several
capacities including as local Superior and General
Councillor. She was living and ministering in Inverness, Cape
Breton, until illness brought her to Martha Place/Mary’s
Court in Antigonish in 2018.
Sister Wilma brought a sense of humour and a
practical approach to life wherever she was sent. Her compassionate
and prayerful presence was a comfort for individual people as well as
the communities in which she lived and served. She loved
history and learning the stories of people and their communities, and
this provided Sister Wilma with a deep sense of connection to the
world around her.
Sister Wilma was predeceased by her
parents. She is survived by her sister, Marguerite and her
husband, Geoff Nash; niece, Jacqueline and her husband Jeremy, each to
whom she was devoted and they to her.
The remains will be resting at Martha Place,
Parkland Antigonish, beginning Friday, November 30th at 1:15
p.m. A Celebration of Vigil will be held that same evening at
7 p.m. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday
December 1st, at 1 p.m. in St. Martha Chapel, Parkland
Antigonish.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.L.
Curry Funeral Services of Antigonish.
Online condolences: www.clcurry.com.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Sr Wilma Best 19442018..
Décès pour la Ville: Antigonish, Province: Nova Scotia
