Sr. Patrice LaRusic
Born In: Bay St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: December 8th, 2009
Sister Patrice LaRusic, 92, a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, died at Bethany, the motherhouse, on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, in the 73rd year of her religious life.
Born in Bay St. Lawrence, NS, and baptized Mary Alice, she was the daughter of the late Patrick and Evelena (Capstick) LaRusic.
Sister Patrice entered the Sisters of St. Martha on September 8, 1935, pronounced her first vows on July 16, 1937, and pronounced her final vows on July 22, 1940. Sister’s training and most of her ministry was spent in the health care field. In 1938, Sister Patrice became a registered Laboratory Technician with Canadian Society of Laboratory Technologists after receiving certification from Ottawa General Hospital in Ottawa. In 1960 she received a diploma in Hospital Organization and Management; in 1967 she became a member of the American College Hospital Administrators; in 1972 she was certified in Administration of Homes for Aging and received Fellowship in the American College of Nursing Home Administrators in 1976.
Sister Patrice served in Nova Scotia at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Glace Bay, St. Mary’s Hospital in Inverness, R. K. MacDonald Nursing Home and Guest House and Bethany in Antigonish. In Western Canada, Sister served in Saskatchewan at St. Peter’s Hospital in Melville and Mercy Hospital and Martha House in Regina; in Alberta at St. Michael’s Hospital in Lethbridge. After retiring from hospital administration, Sister Patrice volunteered as receptionist at Galilee Community in Arnprior, ON, as pastoral care worker at St. Peter’s Hospital in Melville, SK, and at Bethany as switchboard operator and clerical worker. In 1999, because of failing health, Sister Patrice retired from active service, although she continued to help out where she could. She served as local leader in eight of the local communities where she lived.
Sister Patrice was the third child in a family of thirteen. She is survived by three brothers, Ignatius Edwin, James Joseph and William Joseph and by three sisters, Evelyn Lindsey, Josephine MacLean and Theresa Turner.
She was predeceased by three sisters, Anne McEvoy, Mary Chenier and Rita MacDougall and by three brothers, Emery Patrick, John Anthony and James Timothy.
The remains will be resting at Bethany, beginning on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, at 1:15 p.m., where a Celebration of Vigil will be held on the same evening at 7:30. Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 at 2 p.m. in Bethany Chapel.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry’s Funeral Service, Antigonish.
