Sister Anne Cecilia MacNeil
1919 - 2015
Sister Anne Cecilia MacNeil
Visitation Information
Visitation
November 20, 2015
Visitation Time
After 1:15pm
Visitation Location
Bethany Motherhouse
Service Information
Service Date
Saturday November 21, 2015
Service Time
2:00 pm
Service Location
Bethany Chapel
Burial Information
Burial Date
November 21, 2015
Burial Location
Bethany Cemetery
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MacNeil: Sister Anne Cecilia, 96, a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, died at Bethany, Motherhouse on Thursday, November 19, 2015. She was in the 56th year of religious life.

Born in Iona, NS, Sister Anne Cecilia was the youngest of ten children of the late Alexander P. and Mary (MacLeod) MacNeil.

Sister entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha on February 15, 1957, pronounced her first vows in 1959, and made perpetual profession of vows on August 15, 1962.

Prior to entering the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, Sister Anne Cecilia was employed by the Canadian Naval Service which brought her to Halifax and Sydney, NS, Ottawa, ON, and Montreal, QC. She received a Certificate in Placement and E.R. Advisory from the U.S. Air Force, University of Denver. During these years, she was employed by the U.S. Air Force which brought her to Goose Bay, NL and Greenland.

Following her entrance with the Sisters of St. Martha, Sister Anne Cecilia ministered in the main office at Bethany Motherhouse and at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Glace Bay, NS. After completing training through the Catholic Hospital Association in both Hospital Personnel Management (April 1963) and Hospital Organization and Management (May 1965), Sister Anne Cecilia began nineteen years of Hospital Administration at St. Martha’s Hospital where she was Assistant Administrator for the next three years. She then went on as Administrator in Mineral Springs Hospital, Banff, AB (three years) and back home to Antigonish, NS at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital (seven years). Following a year of renewal, Sister Anne Cecilia was Administrator at the R. K. MacDonald Nursing Home (six years). Once retired from her work as Administrator, she continued reaching out to those in need by serving in Parish Ministry at Assumption Parish in Lethbridge, AB and Christ the King Parish in Trenton, NS. Returning to hospital ministry, she was Director of Pastoral Care Mineral Springs, Banff, AB. Her last years in active ministry were spent at St. Martha’s Hospital and Bethany, offering the skills of her lifetime wherever needed.

For all who knew her, Sister Anne Cecilia was ever a proud Scot and a gracious lady. Her sense of responsibility in ministry was often lightened by the anticipated joy of a trip to Iona. She will be fondly remembered as an eager learner ever ready to share her giftedness with others.

Sister Anne Cecilia was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by six brothers, Norman, Malcolm, John, James, Dan, and Angus and three sisters, Mary Anne, Cecilia, and Alice. During her long illness, her life was deeply enriched by the faithful presence of her two nieces, Pauline and Betty.

The remains will be resting at Bethany, beginning Friday, November 20, 2015 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 on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in Bethany Chapel.

Arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com.

Sister Anne Cecilia MacNeil