SISTER ETHEL KYTE

Liturgy of Christian burial for the late Sister Ethel Kyte, formerly Sister Mary of Fatima, 97, a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, was held November 2 in St. Martha Chapel, Parkland Antigonish, with Father Gary MacPherson officiating.

Sister Kyte died October 30, 2019, in Mary’s Court, in the 69th year of her religious life.

Cross bearer was Sister Rosalie Lavalee. Pall carrier was Norma Robertson. Readers were Sister Joan Fultz, Sister Stella Chafe and Sister Catherine Arsenault. Colleen Boucher and Sister Phyllis O’Donnell presented the offertory gifts. Music was provided by cantor and leader of song Sister Claire MacNeil and pianist Sheila Redden.

Pallbearers were Pat Kyte, Carmen Fougere, Michael Morrison, Dan Fougere, Chuck Scott and Connie Beaton.

Born in River Tillard, Nova Scotia, Sister Ethel was the youngest of six children of the late Michael and Christina (MacIntosh) Kyte. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha on May 25, 1948, pronounced her first vows on February 15, 1950, and her perpetual profession of vows on August 15, 1954.  Prior to entering the congregation, Sister worked as a nurse for three years, having graduated from St. Martha’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1944. After her profession of vows, Sister Ethel spent most of her ministry life in the field of nursing.  In Nova Scotia, she ministered at St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish; St. Rita Hospital, Sydney; New Waterford Consolidated Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital, Inverness.  Sister also ministered outside of Nova Scotia in St. John’s Hospital, Lowell, Massachusetts and St. Michael’s General Hospital, Lethbridge, Alberta. In 1959, Sister Ethel obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Ward Administration and Teaching from Dalhousie University and, in 1972, graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Mount Saint Vincent University. After her retirement in 1980, Sister resided at Bethany, the former Motherhouse, where she assisted with various duties and services.  In 2005, due to her declining health, she moved to Extended Care in Bethany and, in 2018, courageously made the move into Mary’s Place, the Enhanced Care area of Parkland Antigonish. Sister Ethel spent the last few years of her life as mission, offering prayers for the needs of the world, near and far.  Through her years of declining health and suffering, she maintained an interest in the lives of those around her.  She was known to be a wonderful nurse and very kind. Sister Ethel was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by two brothers, Jimmie, Charles; half-brother, Edmund MacIsaac; three half-sisters, Mary Pringle, Hilda Morrison; Hilda’s twin, Mabel, in infancy. 

Online condolences: www.MacIsaacs.ca