Sister Margaret Smith

1921 - 2015

(SISTER M. PATRICIA)

October 8, 1921 –
July 19, 2015

It is with deep sadness that the Sisters of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie, announce the death of Sister Margaret Smith on Sunday, July 19, 2015 at St. Joseph's Motherhouse, North Bay. 

Sister Margaret was born on October 8th, 1921, in Woodlawn, Ontario.  She was the second child of sixteen children.  Following completion of her secondary school education, Margaret embarked upon a nursing career entering the Ottawa Civic programme in 1940 graduating in 1943.  A year later Margaret entered the Sisters of St. Joseph July 16, 1944.  Following her novitiate, Margaret journeyed to Thunder Bay where in 1947, she was appointed Director of Nursing Service and Education.  Eight years later, in 1955 Margaret was transferred to the Sudbury General Hospital of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to become Administrator, where she spent three years before she returned to Thunder Bay.  Margaret served in Administration for ten years.  It was here that Margaret introduced several new programmes to the hospital and was responsible for replacing the original site with a brand new facility and modern School of Nursing.  Alcoholic treatment, an unknown programme to hospitals, was introduced by Margaret for the first time in an Ontario facility and became the model for future care in hospitals sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph.  In 1973 Margaret was recognized for the establishment of the first publicly funded hospital treatment programme, for alcohol and drug dependent persons.

Margaret served as Assistant General Superior and as Councillor for her congregation from 1968 – 1978. In 1974 she accepted the position of Administrator of St. Joseph's General Hospital, North Bay, a position she held until her formal retirement in 1987.  During this period Sister Margaret and the Board of Directors worked diligently to enhance services for the citizens of North Bay.   This was achieved in collaboration with her peers at the North Bay Civic Hospital.  Despite numerous challenges at the local and provincial levels, their endeavours resulted in the establishment of the North Bay Regional Health Centre.

Throughout Margaret's career, she served on many local, provincial and national committees and boards such as the establishment of the Lakehead Regional School of Nursing, Chair of the Catholic Health Association of Canada, Chair of the Canadian Council on Hospital Accreditation, Member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Hospital Association, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and Council to the Ontario Council on Health, named to Premier Bob Rae's Council on Health, Well Being and Social Justice for Ontario and Member of the Order of Canada 2007.  The Catholic Health Association of Canada performance citation award clearly outlines Sister Margaret's contribution as a leader in Health Care in a Christian context –“exemplary leadership of a national effort at building up the Christian Community and unselfish dedication as a person for others”. 

Following retirement Margaret enjoyed a well deserved sabbatical at the School of Applied Theology in Berkeley, California.  In 1998 Margaret was asked to be Executive Director of St. Joseph's Heritage, Bethammi Nursing Home, the P.R. Cook Apartments and the Frank Murphy Community Center for seniors in Thunder Bay, a position she held for four years.  Margaret returned to North Bay in 1992 where she has resided with her sisters at St. Joseph's Motherhouse.

Sister Margaret is predeceased by her parents Gertrude Muldoon and Patrick Smith; brothers Lawrence (Eileen), Francis (Muriel), Edward (Betty), James (Glennis), Gervais (Theresa), sisters; Nora (Pat Walsh), Irene (Ed Whelan) (Max Hoolihan), Agnes, Theresa (Tommy McHale), Loretta (Joe Brennan) Maureen (Stanley Reid) and three infant sisters; Mary, Jane and Evelyn.  She is survived by her youngest sister Gertie (Pat) Murphy, forty-nine nieces & nephews, eighty-four grand nieces and nephews and sixty great grand nieces and nephews.

Sister Margaret will be remembered as a woman of vision, common sense, courage, collaboration and a wonderful sense of humour.  Her love of community and family empowered her to bring witness of healing and God's great love to all those with whom she came in contact, especially the wounded and marginalized in our society.  She will be truly missed by her community, family, health professionals and friends.

The body of Sister Margaret will be received at the Motherhouse, on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 2:00 pm, followed by a prayer service in the Sacred Heart Chapel at 7:00 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 23, 2015,  in the Sacred Heart Chapel.  Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, North Bay.

“May Sister Margaret Rest In Peace”