PROVIDENCE

In Memoriam
BY SISTER BARBARA THIFFAULT
Theresa Matthews was born
in Toronto on June 16, 1930
the eldest of six children
born to Florence Casey and Charles
Patrick Matthews. She received her
early education at St. Vincent’s
School in Kingston and her Secondary
School Diploma from Notre
Dame High School, Kingston. Upon
graduation in 1948, she attended the
University of Ottawa where she
obtained a Diploma as a Registered
Nurse in 1951, a Nursing Education
Certificate in 1953 and a Bachelor of
Nursing Science in 1955.
Theresa entered the novitiate of the
Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent
de Paul on September 8, 1962. After
making her First Profession in 1965
at which time she took the name,
Sister Mary Benedict, she was
assigned to the School of Nursing at
St. Mary’s Hospital in Montreal as
an instructor. In 1967 she went to
St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital in
Kingston as a relief Director of
Nurses. The following year she was
sent to Providence Hospital, Moose
Jaw to do in-service education
where she remained for two years.
In 1970 she returned to Kingston
where she was assigned as Infirmary
Assistant to Sister Mary Alban.
During that year she took a
course in the Sociology
of Health and
Medicine at Queen’s
University. In 1971
she had surgery at
St. Mary’s Hospital
in Montreal
and spent three
months
convalescing at
the Father Dowd
Home. While there
she was able to relieve
the Sisters on duty there
for their weekly day off. In
1971 she returned to St. Mary’s of
the Lake Hospital in Kingston as an
Employee Health Nurse. In 1974
she became Director of Employee
Health Services. In 1980 she took
the Occupational Health Nursing
Program completing Module I, Occupational
Hygiene and Health Surveillance
as a part-time student at
St. Lawrence College, Brockville.
From September to December 1993
Sister Theresa attended a renewal
program at Saint Stephen
Priory Spiritual Life
Center in Dover,
Massachusetts.
From February to
June 1994 she
participated in
Wellsprings: a
program for
Christian ministries
in Glen
Falls, New York.
Following her
sabbatical year, she
returned to Moose
Jaw where she ministered
as a Sister Pastoral
Associate at Providence Place. In
2005 she returned to the Motherhouse
in Kingston where she was
assigned as sacristan. After a relatively
short illness, Sister Theresa
was called home to her loving God
on Saturday evening, February 19,
2011. Sister Theresa, being a very
unassuming and private person,
dearly loved her family and her
religious congregation.
Her family members as well as
several relatives attended the Vigil
Service and funeral. Her brother,
Rev. Carl Matthews S.J. of Toronto
presided over the Mass of Christian
Burial held on February 22nd in the
Motherhouse Chapel. Msgr. Don
Clement delivered the homily. Other
members of the clergy were also in
attendance.
Sister Theresa Matthews
June 16, 1930 — February 19, 2011
21