19262017
Sr. Rita MacLellan
1926-2017
MacLELLAN, Sister Rita, 91, a native of Grand Mira, NS, died
at Bethany, Antigonish, NS, on Sunday, November 26, 2017. She was
formerly Sister Mary Prisca, and had been a Sister of St. Martha for
65 years. She was the daughter of the late Angus and Elizabeth
(Gillis) MacLellan.
Rita graduated from
Provincial Normal College, Truro, in 1946. After teaching for four
years she entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of St. Martha in
February 1951, made her first commitment on August 15, 1952, and her
perpetual commitment in the Congregation on August 15, 1955.
For twenty-two years Sister Rita taught in
elementary schools throughout Cape Breton, in Kamloops, BC, and
Lethbridge, AB. In Antigonish, Sister Rita served at Wellspring
Centre, St. Francis Xavier University, for 10 years. She was
Assistant Director of the Diaconate Program at St.
Augustine’s Seminary, Toronto, for nine years. Sister also
served in various Congregation ministries, such as Formation Director,
Bethany Coordinator, and as Local Leader in a number of our local
communities.
Sister received her BA degree
from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. She
attended Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, and Boston College, MA, for
periods of renewal.
A dedicated educator,
Sister Rita spent many hours with people who were learning English as
a second or third language. Hospitality was deeply rooted in
Sister Rita and was evidenced in the many cups of tea and biscuits she
served, and her listening ear offered to any who came into her
awareness. She was devoted to her family and they were
devoted to her.
Sister Rita was the sixth
oldest in a family of fourteen. She is survived by sisters
Isabel MacGillivary, South Bar, NS, and Sister Josephine, CSM,
Lethbridge, AB. Also survived by three sisters-in-law,
Emily, Grand Mira, Pat, Sydney, and Fran, Malta, and many devoted
nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her sisters Jeanette
Gillis, Margaret Gillis, Rose Burke and Anne Morrison, and by her
brothers Donald, Andrew, John, Vincent, Joseph, Frank and Martin.
The remains will be resting at Bethany,
beginning on Tuesday, November 28 at 12:45 p.m., where a Celebration
of Vigil will be held on the same evening at 7:30 p.m. Liturgy of
Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, November 29, at 2:00
p.m. Bethany Chapel.
Arrangements are under
the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish. Online
condolences: www.clcurry.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Sr Rita MacLellan 19262017.source
Death notice for the town of: Antigonish, Province: Nova Scotia
death notice Sr Rita MacLellan 19262017- mortuary notice Sr Rita MacLellan 19262017