Sister Mary Roderick MacMullin
Born In: Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: December 25th, 2011
Sister Mary Roderick MacMullin, 87, a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, died at Bethany, the motherhouse on Dec. 25, 2011, in the 66th year of her religious life.
Born in Louisbourg, N.S., Sister Mary Roderick was the sixth in a family of 15 children, the daughter of the late John and Stella (Dixon) MacMullin.
Sister Roderick entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha on Aug. 15, 1944. She pronounced her first vows Aug. 15, 1946, and her perpetual profession of vows Aug. 15, 1949. Sister ministered in the field of education for 36 years. In 1949 she graduated from the Provincial Normal College in Truro with her teaching certificate. Sister attended St. Francis Xavier University and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in 1951 and her Master of Arts degree in 1956. In 1968 she was certified as a reading specialist with the Department of Education in Nova Scotia and received her TC 8 Teaching Licence in 1971. Sister Roderick attended Temple University in Philadelphia, Penn., and graduated with her Masters of Education in 1971 and her Doctorate in Education in 1978.
Her ministry in education was with the Nova Scotia Department of Education, serving in Margaree, Main-a-Dieu and Dingwall as both teacher and principal. In 1964, Sister Roderick began teaching at St. Andrews Rural High School in Antigonish and remained there until 1975. After one year of full-time study at Temple University, Sister returned to Antigonish and taught at St. Andrew Junior High for two years. It was at that time, 1978-81, she took up the position of regional reading Consultant with the Municipality of Antigonish. From 1981-89, Sister taught in the Education Department of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish.
After retiring from teaching, Sister Roderick was named archivist for the congregation and set up an excellent archival system and data base. Following her resignation from this position in 1998, Sister was asked to set up the archives for the Diocese of Antigonish. She completed this ministry in 2001, moving into full-time retirement at the motherhouse. Because of failing health, Sister moved into Bethany’s extended care in 2003, where she remained until her death.
Sister Roderick is survived by three sisters, Theresa MacKinnon, Betty Senvardarli and Patricia Lahey, and by three brothers, Gregory, Ralph and Michael.
She was predeceased by six brothers, Roderick, Daniel, George, John, Patrick and Peter, and by two sisters, Sadie Mrazek, Margaret Kehoe.
The remains will be resting at Bethany, beginning Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 1:15 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 Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. in Bethany Chapel.
Arrangements are under the direction of MacIsaac Funeral Home of Antigonish, www.MacIsaacs.ca.
