Nolan, Sister Winifred, 99, formerly Sister Mary Ruth, a Sister of St. Martha, died at St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish on July 27, 2015 in the 76th year of her religious life.
Born in Mount Carmel, Newfoundland/Labrador, and baptized Winifred Genevieve, she was the daughter of the late John and Bridget (Power) Nolan.
Sister Winifred entered the Sisters of St. Martha on September 8, 1937, pronounced her first vows on August 24, 1939, and pronounced her final vows on August 24, 1942. For most of her religious life, Sister Winifred participated in the ministry of homemaking in the various houses in which she lived. Homemaking was the founding ministry of the Sisters of St. Martha at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. In Mainland Nova Scotia, Sister Winifred served at St. Martha’s Hospital, Coady International Institute, St. Martha’s Convent and Bethany. In Cape Breton she served at Little Flower Institute, Bras d’Or, St. Charles Convent, Dominion, St. Mary’s Convent, Inverness, New Waterford Consolidated Hospital Convent, New Waterford. She served as well at St. Martha’s Catholic Center, Boston, Cardinal’s Residence, Toronto and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convent, Kamloops, B.C. Sister Winifred served as community leader in four of the local communities where she lived.
Sister Winifred, the third youngest of twelve children, was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by four brothers: John, Bert, Francis and Walter, and by seven sisters: Blanche, Ellen, Kathleen, Mercedes, Mary Cleary, Muriel, and Sister Mary Alicia, a Religious of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She is survived by several nieces and nephews
Sister Winifred will be fondly remembered for her cheerful spirit, her art of storytelling with a poem to fit every occasion. It was evident from her many stories that Sister Winifred cherished dearly her Newfoundland roots. She also loved to dress up for any feast, be it St. Valentine’s Day or St. Partick’s Day, sporting one of her tall hats that she had made herself—giving everyone a chuckle as she walked into the dining room.
Her remains will be resting at Bethany, beginning Thursday, July 30 at 1:15 p.m.. A Celebration of Vigil will be held on that same evening at 7:30 p.m. Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, July 31, 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