PROVIDENCE

BY SISTER BARBARA THIFFAULT
Sister Grace Garvey died on
May 1, 2011 at Providence
Motherhouse, Kingston, Ontario
in the 79th year of her religious
life. Born on July 19, 1916 in
Mayo, Quebec, she grew up on the
family farm with her eleven siblings.
At age 16 she entered the novitiate
of the Sisters of Providence of St.
Vincent de Paul in Kingston. Her
first mission was an assignment to
cook for the Sisters at St. John’s
Convent in Perth, Ontario. She also
studied music and assisted in the
various duties at the parish church.
Following this assignment Sister
Grace went to Trenton and on to
Chesterville, Newmarket, and back
to Perth. In 1946 she went to
Daysland, then Edmonton, and
Moose Jaw and finally settled in
Winnipeg in 1947. In Winnipeg she
was assigned to work at St. Joseph’s
Orphanage, caring for pre-school
children. She had achieved her childhood
dream. She loved working
with these little ones who were so in
need of understanding and love.
After nine years of working in the
In Memoriam
orphanage, the Sisters perceived a
new need was emerging, that of Day
Care for the children of working
parents. To prepare for this undertaking
she spent the summers of
1956 and 1957 studying at
the Institute of Child
Study in Toronto becoming
qualified as
Director of the proposed
Day Care
Centre. Later she
took courses in
Kindergarten programming
in Winnipeg
and a course
at the Institute of
Child Care at St.
Louis University in St.
Louis, Missouri. St.
Joseph’s Day Nursery served
the families of Winnipeg from
1957 until it closed its doors in June
of 1992. Sister was an acknowledged
leader in advancing the welfare of
pre-school children and the Nursery
often served as a model for other
centres to emulate. Following her retirement
as Director of St. Joseph’s
Day Nursery in 1988, Sister Grace
23
took a short sabbatical. In the spring
of 1989 she went to St. Paul’s University
to take a Pastoral Health
Care course. Once back in Winnipeg
she continued the work in which
she had been engaged
while Director of the
Day Care. She visited
and
administered
Communion at
Tuxedo Villa,
Deer Lodge
Hospital, Extended
Care
Facilities and
visited the elderly
and the sick
in three private
homes. Sister often
felt privileged to have
been allowed to follow a path
that was so right for her. Her life
was enriched and made meaningful
through the work she did. Sister
Grace was a very hospitable person
who welcomed all with warmth and
cheerfulness. Sister Grace is predeceased
by her parents Thomas and
Rose (Killeen) Garvey, her sister,
Bernice Corrigan, and her brothers,
John, Joseph and Angus. She is
survived by her brothers, Brother
Matthew Garvey, CSsR, of Toronto,
and Regis (Dorothy) of Ottawa, and
her sisters, Carmel Garvey, Mary
Burke of Waterloo, Clare Hawks of
Gatineau, QC, Sister Clarice Garvey,
OLM, of Brazil and Frances Randall
of Ottawa. She will be fondly
remembered by her family, her many
relatives, friends, and by the
members of her religious congregation.
The Mass of Christian Burial,
held in the Chapel of Mary Mother
of Compassion, Providence
Motherhouse on May 6, 2011 was
presided over by Friar Edward
Debono. O.F.M. Conv. Rev. Terry
McGrath of Winnipeg delivered the
homily.
Sister Grace Garvey
July 16, 1916 — May 1, 2011