HOLY NAMES EDUCATORS MOURNED
Two Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary died recently at Maison Jésus-Marie, in the Congregation’s new infirmary in Longueuil. The two religious who had been ill for some time, had served mostly the English-speaking Catholic community of Quebec as educators.
Sister Doris Curran (Sister Frances Margaret) lived 62 years of religious life and died November 29, 2005 at the age of 81. Born in 1924 in Montreal, Sister doris was one of nine children. She attended St.DominicSchool and D’Arcy McGee High School. She entered the Congregation shortly after graduation in 1942.
Sister Doris taught from 1944 to 1962 at St. Aloysius Elementary School and Hochelaga Convent in Montreal as well as at an elementary school in Mackayville on the South shore. She left teaching to serve as an assistant to the director of novices in the Montreal Novitiate from 1962-196, after which she served in various areas.
One of her most fulfilling experiences was her five years working at a center for battered women and their children. She also taught English to French-speaking senior, served as bursur, oversaw maintenance and purchasing at the SNJM General Adminstration as well as driving the car to and from the airport etc. She also visited the sick and elderly, served on a vocation committee as well as was director of the Anglophone SNM Associates for about two years.
Sister Doris had a strong faith and a happy, grateful disposition. She accepted people at face-value and treated everyone with respect and dignity. Being attentive and trying to live out the will of God was very important to her daily life. She lived under the banner “Your will be done!”
Sister Doris’ funeral was held on December 1,2005. She leaves two sisters, Margaret Curran Bélanger and May Curran Pilon.
Sister Margaret Maxwell (Sister Helen of the Passion) died January 6, 2006 at the age of 88. She had entered the Congregation 72 years ago.
She was born in Glascow, Scotland, in 1916, one of six children. Her family moved to Montreal when she was three, and she later attended St. Aloysius School and Hochelaga convent. Sister Margaret entered the Congregation in Montreal in 1932. From 1934 to 1961, she taught both public and private high school, including, Maplewood Convent in Waterloo, QC; Bonsecour Academy and Outremont Convent in Outremont; and Hochelaga Convent and Holy Names High School in Montreal. Despite her long career in formal education, a career highlight was teaching English to pregnant women at Elizabeth house for a year.
Living at the Motherhouse since 1972, Sister Margaret greatly used her seamstress skills to make the sisters’ new dresses when the Congregation opted to modify the habit. she also sewed sheets, pillow cases and “piques” for the infirmary. She was always willing to be of service. She entered the infirmary about four years ago.
Sister Margaret was an excellent teacher who loved her students, several of whom attended her funeral. Among the great literature she taught her students, Francis Thompson’s The Hound of Heaven remained her favourite from which she drew much strength and consolation. Words from the poem – “Rise, clasp my hand and come” – were printed on the program used at her wake service.
Sister Margaret’s funeral was held on January 11, 2006 and she is survived by her sister Dorothea Wales, her sister-in-law Joyce Maxwell and several nieces and nephews.
(This article was written in the February issue of the Catholic Times by Laura Ieraci.)