Sister Mary Donalda MacDonald
Passed on: October 10th, 2017
Sister Mary Donalda MacDonald, 99, a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, died at Bethany, the Motherhouse, on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 in the 80th year of her religious life.
Born in Ardness, Pictou Co., NS, and baptized Anne Cecilia, she was the daughter of the late John Charles and Mary Isabel (MacKinnon) MacDonald.
Sister Donalda entered the Sisters of St. Martha on September 15, 1935, pronounced her first vows on September 3, 1937, and her final vows on September 3, 1940. Sister’s training and most of her ministry was spent in the health care field. She did her nursing studies from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Glace Bay in 1940, took further studies in Obstetrics in Lethbridge, AB, and returned to St. Martha’s Hospital to complete her nursing studies and received her RN in 1948. In 1952, Sister Donalda did post graduate work at the University of Toronto, receiving her certification in Surgical Nursing and Clinical Supervision. In 1968, she received her B.Sc. in Nursing from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish.
During her years in ministry she served as Obstetric Nurse, Director of Nursing Service and Inhalation Therapist in various health care institutions owned by the Congregation. In Nova Scotia she ministered at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Glace Bay, St. Rita Hospital in Sydney, St. Martha’s Hospital in Antigonish; and in Western Canada at St. Michael’s Hospital in Lethbridge, AB, and at St. Peters Hospital in Melville, SK. After retiring from direct health care service, Sister Donalda worked at Bethany Retreat Center as hostess, studied and received a certificate in electrolysis. She ministered in pastoral care at St. Martha’s Hospital, while working in electrolysis at Bethany. In 1998, Sister Donalda retired from active ministry to Bethany Infirmary.
Sr. Donalda was filled with music, often sharing her gift by playing a tune on her fiddle, or yodeling. She would light up with a bright smile at the slightest sound of music and in turn brought great joy to those around her.
Sister was the youngest child in a family of fifteen children. She is the last surviving member of her immediate family. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by six sisters, Anne, Catherine Smith, Marie Golden, Peg Waugh, Martha MacGillivray and Sister Mary of Calvary, CSM, and by eight brothers, Al, Charles, Donald, Jack, Joseph, Lawrence, Hughie and Ninian. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.
The remains will be resting at Bethany, beginning Friday, October 13, at 11:15 a.m., where a Celebration of Vigil will be held in Bethany’s Chapel on that same evening at 7:30. Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, October 14, at 2 p.m. in Bethany Chapel.
Arrangements are under the direction of Curry’s Funeral Home.
