MICHELLA POETZ

1935 - 2022

POETZ, MICHELLA Michella Poetz passed away peacefully, on September 2, 2022 at Carpenter House Hospice in Burlington, after a long and courageous battle with vascular dementia. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and longtime partner, Carol. Michella was born Joan Mary Poetz in St. Paul, Minnesota on May 17, 1935. After enduring a difficult childhood she completed high school with high grades and worked for 5 years as an assistant accountant. She then entered the Catholic teaching order of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph in California and became known as Sister Michella. She completed a psychology degree while she worked at a retreat center to pay for her tuition. After graduation, Sister Michella worked at Catholic schools in California and England as a school psychologist. She continued post-graduate studies in psychology and had a keen interest in child psychology and immigrant women. Wherever Sister Michella found herself she worked to improve working conditions for marginalized people. She was also a musician who took pride in driving to parishes on her moped in England with her guitar strapped to her back. She enjoyed playing and teaching Christian contemporary music in Catholic churches in England. In 1974 Michella came to Canada on a clergy pass and was sponsored by a group called Women Working with Immigrant Women under the auspices of George Brown College. She eventually resigned as a Catholic Sister and opened her own psychotherapy practice in Toronto from which she retired in 2015. Michella was a leader in contemplative prayer and practiced and taught it to many. She enjoyed travelling and spent many winters in Arizona. A Service will be held at Maple Grove United Church, 346 Maple Grove Drive, Oakville at 11.00 a.m. on October 22nd. A light lunch will follow the service. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Maple Grove United Church, Carpenter House or a Charity of Your Choice.