Sister Rita MacLellan
Passed on: November 26th, 2017
Sister Rita MacLellan, 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 p.m. Bethany Chapel.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com.
