Roach, Sister M. Simone,
93, a Sister of Saint Martha, died at Bethany, the
Motherhouse, on July 2, 2016. She was in the
69th year of religious
life.
Born in New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Sister Simone was
one of eleven children of the late Simon and Mary (MacInnis)
Roach.
Sister entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St.
Martha in 1945, and made her perpetual profession of vows on August
15, 1950. Prior to entering the Congregation she graduated from St.
Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing, Glace Bay, NS. After
her profession of vows Sister Simone spent most of her life
ministering in the field of Nursing Education. In Nova Scotia, she
served at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Glace
Bay, St. Martha’s Hospital School of Nursing and the Nursing
Department of St. Francis Xavier University, both in Antigonish. She
served, also, at St. Augustine’s Seminary, Scarborough,
Toronto School of Theology, Toronto, St. Bonifice Hospital, Winnipeg,
and Catherine Labouré School of Nursing, Boston, MA. In
1980-81, Sister was Scholar in Ethics at Harvard Divinity School in
Cambridge, MA, and Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the
University of Toronto. She served 1981-85 as a member of the General
Council of the Congregation. In 1996 established the
Congregation’s Heritage Department at Bethany. Her gifts as
writer, author and speaker, particularly on topics of Ethics and
Caring, continues to contribute greatly to education in the Health
Care Profession.
A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University in
Antigonish, Sister furthered her studies in Administration and
Clinical Supervision at the University of Toronto and received a
Master of Science in Administration Nursing Education at Boston
University. In 1970 she received her Doctorate in Higher Education
from the School of Education at Catholic University of America,
Washington, D.C. In 2011, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, conferred
upon Sister Simone the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris
causa, in recognition of her influential work on the study
of caring in nursing practice across the globe.
Sister Simone was appointed to the Order of Canada in
2010 for her contributions as a leader in Nursing Education and for
establishing the first Code of Ethics for nurses in
Canada.
Sister Simone is survived by one sister, Ellen Smith,
Florida, and by one brother, Bernard, Gloucester, ON. Besides her
parents she was predeceased by sisters: Catherine Roach, Sarah Gillis,
Sister Mary Celesta, Sister of Charity of Halifax, and brothers:
Henry, Angus, David, Father William (Bill) and
Thomas.
The remains will be resting at Bethany, beginning
Tuesday, July 5th at 1:15 p.m. A Celebration of
Vigil will be held on the same evening at 7:30. Liturgy of Christian
Burial will take place on Wednesday, July
6th at 2:00 p.m. in Bethany
chapel.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry
Funeral Home of Antigonish. Online condolences at
www.clcurry.com.