Connolly,
Sister Madeline, formerly Sister Regina Clare, 105, a
Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, died at Mary’s Court, on
Sunday November 6, 2022 in the 85th year of her
Religious Life.
Born in Bristol’s Hope,
Newfoundland and Labrador, Sister Madeline was the daughter of the
late Samuel and Catherine (Power) Connolly.
Sister Madeline entered the Sisters
of St. Martha on September 15, 1935. She pronounced her first vows on
July 16, 1937 and her perpetual vows on July 22, 1940.
In August 1941, Sister Madeline
received her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier
University in Antigonish. In 1942, she obtained her Bachelor of
Library Science degree from the University of Toronto. In 1956 Sister
did further studies at the University of Toronto, and at the
University of Edinburgh in 1972. Sister Madeline received an Honorary
Doctorate Degree from St. Francis Xavier University in
1986.
While living at St.
Martha’s Convent on the campus of St. Francis Xavier
University, Sister served as Librarian at the University from 1942 to
1980. From 1980 to 1988 she ministered as the assistant librarian at
St. Augustine’s Seminary in Scarborough, ON. After a year of
spiritual renewal at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, Sister
Madeline did volunteer work while living at St. Martha’s
Convent and Marian Community in Antigonish, St. Elizabeth’s
Convent, Calgary, AB and New Waterford Consolidated Hospital in Cape
Breton.
A voracious reader equaled only by
playing cards, Sr. Madeline loved nothing more than a good
conversation. Her stories from ministry at St. Francis Xavier Library
gave life to the rich history, blessings, and challenges that
accompanied the growth of the University. She kept active in a manner
that left people in awe, taking the stairs daily rather than the
elevator. Her life was rooted in prayer, and this was evident in the
wisdom that she shared at every Martha gathering, leaving her Martha
sisters with much to ponder.
Sister Madeline was the second
oldest in a family of five children, she is the last member of her
immediate family. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by brothers
Lawrence, James and Fredrick, and sister Rita Matthews. She has many
devoted nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family, and friends,
in particular her sister-in-law, Sheila.
Following the recommendations and procedures in place at this
time, the remains will rest at Martha Place, Parkland Antigonish,
where a private Celebration of Vigil will be held followed by a
private Liturgy of Christian Burial on, Wednesday November 9, 2022, at
1:30pm in St. Martha Chapel at Martha Place, Parkland, Antigonish.
Sister Connolly’s eulogy will be livestreamed on C.L. Curry
Funeral Home website at 11:00 am on Wednesday. Liturgy of
Christian Burial will be livestreamed at 1:30 pm. Online condolences:
www.clcurry.com