Sister Mary Cecilia MacDonald, formerly S.S. Mary Stephen, a Sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame, died at the CND Health Care Center on November 11, 2022 in her 78th year of religious life.
Mary Cecilia was born in Sydney, NS on April 7, 1922, the daughter of the late Lauchlin and Christine (MacGillivray) MacDonald. She entered the Congregation of Notre Dame in 1942 and made First Vows in 1944.
Sister Mary Cecilia walked faithfully in God’s ways, giving of herself fully in the ministry of liberating education, teaching young children and also future teachers, where she helped form their minds and hearts to carry on the task of educating students in a caring, respectful and thoughtful manner. She began her teaching career in Montreal at St. Patrick’s Academy and continued from there to Mount Saint Bernard College in Antigonish, NS. Sister taught at Morrison Elementary School for twenty-five years, serving as principal for fifteen of those years. Sister Mary Cecilia spent the last seventeen years of her career in the elementary education department of St. Francis Xavier University.
After retiring from teaching, she continued to give of herself in various ministries. While serving as a pastoral minister in Innisfail, Alberta, Sister Mary Cecilia got to know and love the people of the West. Returning to Nova Scotia, she generously served in various community capacities at Notre Dame Convent in Sydney Mines and St. Theresa Convent in Sydney, NS. Sister Mary Cecilia’s final years were spent at Parkland Cape Breton and the CND Health Care Center where she focused on intercessory prayer and personal presence.
Sr. Mary Cecilia was the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was predeceased by brother Angus (Mary), Hugh Dan (Carrie), Norman (Marion), Stephen, Donald, Bernard (Theresa), Raymond (Helen), and sisters Catherine (Otto) Harnish, Anne, Margaret (Art) MacNeil. She is survived by her great friend and sister-in-law Ethel MacDonald along with numerous loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her love for family and her genuine interest in their well being fostered the closeness she maintained with them throughout her life.
Visitation will be held 5 -7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15 at T. W. Curry Parkview Chapel with prayer service at 6 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 16 at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church with Fr. Bill Burke officiating. The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person on T. W. Curry Parkview Chapel facebook page. Facemasks are still required at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church.
Interment in Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks.
To leave memories or condolences please visit www.twcurry.com
