Sr. Elaine MacInnes, OLM

Died on November 29, 2022 at Presentation Manor after a lengthy illness. Predeceased by parents John and Georgina (Melanson) MacInnes, brother Bill MacInnes and sisters Olwin Landry and Ethel Gray-Grant. Remembered with affection by many nieces and nephews, numerous friends and the sisters of Our Lady’s Missionaries. Elaine was loved for her warm and friendly way of making lasting connections with people of all walks of life.

Born and educated in Moncton N.B. Elaine then studied violin at Mount Allison University in Sackville N.B. and Julliard School of Music in New York. After teaching violin at Mount Royal College Conservatory in Calgary and playing in the Calgary and Edmonton symphony orchestras, Elaine entered Our Lady’s Missionaries in 1953.

Her first mission was in Japan where she taught violin and began studying Zazen meditation, eventually teaching Zen and being granted the title of Roshi. After 17 years in Japan Elaine was transferred to the Philippines where she opened a Zen centre in Manila. While there she was invited to teach Zen meditation in a Detention Centre. This was the beginning of many years of prison ministry which led to her commitment to restorative justice. It also led to an invitation to become the director of the Prison Phoenix Trust in Oxford, England, a program that brought Zen meditation and yoga into prisons.

After ten years in England Elaine “retired” and returned to Toronto, Canada. Here she continued in her two beloved ministries by starting a Zen meditation group and the “Freeing the Human Spirit” program for bringing Zen and yoga to prisoners. When failing health prompted her to wind down active participation, Elaine never lost interest in her former colleagues and students, always happy to receive visitors and give support and encouragement.

Living at Presentation Manor with other members of Our Lady’s Missionaries for the past four years, Elaine enjoyed participating in activities with her own community as well as with the larger Presentation Manor community. The dedicated care and support that Elaine has received from the staffs of Presentation Manor and Canadian Religious Stewardship are deeply appreciated.

A wake with prayer service will be held at Presentation Manor, 61 Fairfax Crescent, Scarborough Ontario, Wednesday December 7 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.

The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at Presentation Manor on Thursday December 8 at 11:45 am. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery will take place at 2:45 pm.

The Mass can be viewed via Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 833 1030 1944

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Meeting ID: 833 1030 1944

Passcode: 120980