PROVIDENCE

In Memoriam
BY SISTER BARBARA THIFFAULT
Mary Inez Donovan was
born in Smiths Falls on
December 29, 1918 the
second oldest of 6 children of
Cornelius Bernard Donovan and
Bridget Agnes Smith. She grew up
on the family farm in Toledo and
received her elementary education in
a small country school in Kitly
Township. She learned to work hard
at an early age doing farm chores
and milking. Great sadness visited
her family on July 12, 1931 when her
mother died during childbirth. Her
Aunt Maggie stayed with the family
and helped her father raise the
children ranging in age from 4 to 14
years. In 1934 her father sent her to
Maryvale Abbey boarding school in
Glen Nevis for her high school
education. The Sisters of Providence
of St. Vincent de Paul ran the
school. Earlier on she had met the
Sisters when they visited her home
while collecting for the poor, aged
and orphans in their care. After
Grade XI, Inez requested to join
them. So on August 15, 1936 she
entered the novitiate in Kingston.
After making Profession she
returned to Maryvale Abbey to
complete her high school and then
in 1940 she went to Ottawa
Normal School. Her
teaching career from
1941 to 1974
included several
years teaching
children from
Kindergarten to
Grade 4 at St.
Margaret’s School,
Glen Nevis, St.
Joseph’s, Kingston,
St. Mark’s, Prescott,
St. David’s, Toronto,
St. Malachy’s, Montreal
and Holy Family School,
Kingston. Sister received her B.A.
from the University of Ottawa in
1959. In 1958 she moved into
teaching high school at St. Michael’s
Academy, Belleville, and then at St.
Malachy’s Montreal. In 1962 she was
assigned as principal of St. Joseph’s
School in Arnprior. In 1965 she
went to St. Francis School, Smiths
Falls where she assumed the duties
of Superior of the convent with her
teaching. Her last year of teaching
was at St. John’s College, Brantford.
She then began the ministry of
Pastoral Work in the
Kingston parishes of
Holy Family,
Blessed Sacrament,
St. Joseph’s and
Good Thief.
During that
time she
served eight
years on the
Leadership
Team. Following
her time in leadership,
she enjoyed a
sabbatical year in the Credo
Program in Spokane, WA. During
the next three years she ministered
in Parish Work in Arnprior. In 1989
she went to Holy Family Hospital,
Vancouver to minister in Pastoral
Care. While in Vancouver, she was
visited with cancer, but thanks to
prayer and good doctors she overcame
this dread disease. In September
2000 she had three months
sabbatical at Queenswood, Victoria
and then returned to the motherhouse
as Coordinator of one of the
groups. Following a brief illness,
Sister Inez was called home peacefully
to her loving God on March
11, 2011. Sister will be remembered
for her common sense, great kindness
and compassion as well as her
deep love for her family and her
religious congregation.
The Mass of Christian Burial, held
in the Chapel of Mary, Mother of
Compassion, Providence Motherhouse
on March 15 was presided
over by Rev. Gerald Donovan,
s.f.m., Sister’s brother, who also
delivered the homily. Other
members of the clergy were in
attendance as were many family
members, relatives and friends.
Sister Inez Donovan
Dec. 29, 1918 – March 11, 2011
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