Sister Marcella Rankin
Born In: Mabou
Passed in: Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: March 13th, 2016
Sister Marcella Rankin, formerly Sister Ann Florence, 87, a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, died at Bethany on March 13, 2016. She was in the 57th year of her religious life.
Born in Mabou, N.S., Marcella was the second youngest in a family of eight children born to William and Catherine (Beaton) Rankin.
Sister Marcella entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha on Aug. 15, 1957. She pronounced her first temporary vows on Aug. 15, 1959 and her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1962.
Sister obtained her Teacher’s License, Provincial Normal College, Truro, and her Art Teacher License, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. For 25 years Marcella was involved in the teaching ministry in Bras d’Or and Eskasoni, N.S., Kamloops and Maple Lake, B.C., and Lethbridge Alta. She served as a pastoral minister in Canso, Inverness, St. Andrews, and Waycobah First Nation, N.S. and St. Paul’s River, Que. She also served on the Bethany Leadership Team. Sister Marcella was a woman who lived a life of simplicity; a lover of nature who delighted in gazing on the ocean while in prayer, especially at Mabou Harbour. She had a strong Celtic heart and took great pleasure in listening to Scottish music. She was close to her family and the many people she encountered during her ministry, and fondly remembered by her fellow teachers.
She is survived by a sister, Flora Catherine MacLellan, her sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews who were very important to her in her life.
Besides her parents, Sister Marcella was predeceased by an infant sister and brother; brothers, Kenneth Finlay, Angus Willie, Finlay Archie and Alex Hughie.
The remains will be resting at Bethany, beginning Wednesday March 16th at 1:15 p.m. A Celebration of Vigil will be held that same evening at 7:30 p.m. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 17th at 2 p.m. in Bethany Chapel.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Services, Antigonish.
Online condolences: www.clcurry.com.
