HOLY NAMES EDUCATORS MOURNED
Two Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary died recently at Maison Jésus-Marie,
in the Congregation’s new infirmary in Longueuil. The two religious who had been ill
for some time, had served mostly the English-speaking Catholic community of Quebec as
educators.
Sister Doris Curran (Sister Frances Margaret) lived 62 years of religious life and died
November 29, 2005 at the age of 81. Born in 1924 in Montreal, Sister doris was one of
nine children. She attended St. Dominic School and D’Arcy McGee High School. She
entered the Congregation shortly after graduation in 1942.
Sister Doris taught from 1944 to 1962 at St. Aloysius Elementary School and Hochelaga
Convent in Montreal as well as at an elementary school in Mackayville on the South
shore. She left teaching to serve as an assistant to the director of novices in the Montreal
Novitiate from 1962-196, after which she served in various areas.
One of her most fulfilling experiences was her five years working at a center for battered
women and their children. She also taught English to French-speaking senior, served as
bursur, oversaw maintenance and purchasing at the SNJM General Adminstration as well
as driving the car to and from the airport etc. She also visited the sick and elderly, served
on a vocation committee as well as was director of the Anglophone SNM Associates for
about two years.
Sister Doris had a strong faith and a happy, grateful disposition. She accepted people at
face-value and treated everyone with respect and dignity. Being attentive and trying to
live out the will of God was very important to her daily life. She lived under the banner
“Your will be done!”
Sister Doris’ funeral was held on December 1, 2005. She leaves two sisters, Margaret
Curran Bélanger and May Curran Pilon.
Sister Margaret Maxwell (Sister Helen of the Passion) died January 6, 2006 at the age
of 88. She had entered the Congregation 72 years ago.
She was born in Glascow, Scotland, in 1916, one of six children. Her family moved to
Montreal when she was three, and she later attended St. Aloysius School and Hochelaga
convent. Sister Margaret entered the Congregation in Montreal in 1932. From 1934 to
1961, she taught both public and private high school, including, Maplewood Convent in
Waterloo, QC; Bonsecour Academy and Outremont Convent in Outremont; and
Hochelaga Convent and Holy Names High School in Montreal. Despite her long career
in formal education, a career highlight was teaching English to pregnant women at
Elizabeth house for a year.
Living at the Motherhouse since 1972, Sister Margaret greatly used her seamstress skills
to make the sisters’ new dresses when the Congregation opted to modify the habit. she
also sewed sheets, pillow cases and “piques” for the infirmary. She was always willing
to be of service. She entered the infirmary about four years ago.
Sister Margaret was an excellent teacher who loved her students, several of whom
attended her funeral. Among the great literature she taught her students, Francis
Thompson’s The Hound of Heaven remained her favourite from which she drew much
strength and consolation. Words from the poem – “Rise, clasp my hand and come” –
were printed on the program used at her wake service.
Sister Margaret’s funeral was held on January 11, 2006 and she is survived by her sister
Dorothea Wales, her sister-in-law Joyce Maxwell and several nieces and nephews.
(This article was written in the February issue of the Catholic Times by Laura Ieraci.)