SISTER THERESA BYRNE

Liturgy of Christian burial for the late Sister Theresa Byrne, formerly Sister Jean Patrice, 88, a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, was held November 9 in St. Martha Chapel, Parkland, Antigonish, with Father Gary MacPherson officiating. Burial was in Bethany Cemetery.    

Sister Byrne died November 5, 2019, in St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish, in the 61st year of her Religious Life.     

Cross bearer at the funeral Mass was Sister Marion Sheridan. Pall carrier was Alexsandria Ryan. Readers were Sister Caroline Lahey, Sister Rosalie Lavalléd and Sister Ann MacKenzie. Barbara Rovers and Sister Mary McMahon presented the offertory gifts. Music was provided by cantor and leader of song Sister Claire MacNeil, Sister Florence Kennedy and pianist Sheila Redden.     

Pallbearers were Ted Ryan, John Ryan, Anthony Rovers, Gordon Gillis, Allan Masters and Donald MacLellan.     

Born in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland, she was the tenth of 13 children of the late John Joseph and Mary Ann (McCarthy) Byrne. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha on February 15, 1956, pronounced her first vows on February 15, 1958 and her perpetual profession of vows on August 15, 1961. Prior to entering the Congregation, Sister Theresa had obtained a diploma course in typing, shorthand and bookkeeping and was employed at Harmon Air Force Base, Stephenville, Newfoundland for four years.  After her profession of vows, Sister’s gifts were used for office work, homemaking, dietary, switchboard and medical accompaniment. She served in both institutions and smaller convents. In Nova Scotia she served in Antigonish at the R.K. MacDonald Nursing Home, Bethany, St. Martha’s Convent, and Martha Place/Mary’s Court Parkland Antigonish; in Guysborough at St. Anne’s Convent; in Cape Breton, Little Flower Institute, Sydney, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Glace Bay, Villa Madonna, Bras D’or, St. Joseph’s Convent Dingwall and Martha Community, Sydney. Sister Theresa also served at St. Michael’s Hospital, Broadview, Saskatchewan and St. Augustine’s Seminary, Scarborough, Ontario. She was a prayerful person who participated in spiritual renewals at Pickering, Ontario, St. Stephen Priory, Massachusetts, and Jesuit Centre, Guelph, Ontario. She was also known for her great sense of humour and storytelling.     

She is survived by sister, Josephine Blocker, Rapid City, South Dakota; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.     

She was predeceased by eight sisters, Winnifred, Veronica Varuska, Mary Ann, Elaine, Dorothy Ryan, Alice; Margaret, Florence, in infancy; three brothers, John, William; Francis, in infancy.  

Online condolences: www.MacIsaacs.ca