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1947 - 2022

BORN

1947

DIED

2022

CELIA SIROIS Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for CELIA SIROIS
Start: 2022-12-26T15:00:00.000Z
Location: Glastonbury Abbey

SIROIS, Celia A Life of Ministry The journey of Celia Sirois came to an end on December 2, 2022. Originally from Watertown, Maine, Celia was born in 1947 to Louis and Cecile Sirois, the eldest of 7 children. She was the beloved companion of Karen Wischmeyer, with whom she helped raise Karen's five children. She will be missed by them all and the eleven grandchildren who knew her as "Mem," Bill and Michele Murphy of Annapolis, MD, Brian and Kimberly Murphy of Duxbury, MA, Kevin and Mary Beth Murphy of Hingham, David and Lia Murphy of Duxbury, Caitlin Murphy and Jonathan Robin of Norwell. Celia graduated summa cum laude from Boston College with a BA in English and from Providence College with a MA in Sacred Scripture Studies. She began her teaching career at Ursuline Academy, Dedham and Notre Dame Academy, Hingham. When she transitioned to teaching adults, she directed CHRISM, a program in the South Shore where she taught scripture classes in many parishes throughout the area. For twenty years, she was co-director of New Directions, a collaborative program with the archdiocese of Boston and the Anti-Defamation League, presenting workshops and courses to educate Catholics about anti-Semitism. She taught scripture in the Masters of Ministry (MAM) program and to the Deacons through the auspices of St. John's Seminary. Celia was the published author of seven books through Daughters of St Paul. In 2013, she was awarded the Cheverus Award for her work in parishes. Celia was predeceased by her brothers, Paul and Gene Sirois. She is survived by her siblings and their families: Tom and Janet Sirois, Anne Sirois, Colette Sirois and Liz and Bob Letellier; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. She will be remembered for her intelligence, her overwhelming generosity and her dedication to the people whom she loved. She will also be remembered for her shy demeanor coupled with her strong stance on social justice that was witnessed in her weekly scripture classes that brought the teachings of Jesus to the front of our minds - to love and care for the poor, homeless, ostracized, and the misunderstood. The family is grateful to Duxbury House Memory Care for the excellent attention to Celia received in the last year of her life. Also, they are grateful to the Palliative Care Team at South Shore Hospital for the warm care during her last week. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore, PO Box 202, N. Weymouth, MA 02191, 781-340-1604 (https://friendsofhomeless.org/donate-to-massachusetts-shelter). A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at Glastonbury Abbey, Hingham at 10am on December 26th. For details and full obituary, visit https://www.mcnamara-sparrell.com/

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Published by Boston Globe from Dec. 10 to Dec. 11, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for CELIA SIROIS

19 Entries

Sr Regina Dick

December 4, 2023

Ahhh. We can be pretty confident Celia, that you are in the Father's house. Like St. Paul, whom you loved, you were baptized in Christ, lived in Christ, died in Christ and by His own resurrection, may you now, know the power of His resurrection to the full.

We remember you both fondly and gratefully and miss your quick humor and down to earth teachings. Thank you God for putting people like Celia in my life.

And to those closest to Celia, especially her family and friends, particularly Karen, I hope you have been able to feel Celia's presence in a heartwarming kind of way.

Peace of Christ

Marilyn Lourandos

March 10, 2023

When Celia taught adults about the Scriptures, either the Old or New Testaments, she was talking about them as family. She understood their personalities, made fun of their "warts", careless ways, and appreciated their wisdom. It was fun to be in her class and I was privileged to have had the experience. I have missed her, but now she is with her Maker. God bless you Celia, you will NEVER be forgotten.

Adriana Goodfellow

December 26, 2022

My condolences to Sirois family. Professor Celia was a role model for me. I still hear her voice sometimes teaching the class.
Adriana Goodfellow

Sally Ruscito

December 17, 2022

I taught with Celia at both Ursuline and Notre Dame. She was the consummate teacher and one devoted to learning and social justice. She influenced so many in her life. She will be missed.
My most sincere sympathy to Karen and family. May Celia rest in peace knowing that she remains in the minds of so many.

Lisa Rubini

December 16, 2022

Sorry to hear about Celia's passing. I had the good fortune to have her as a teacher at Ursuline Academy in the late 70s. I have carried her teaching and wisdom with me all my life and am forever grateful.

Sister Anne D'Arcy, C.S.J.

December 16, 2022

So sorry to hear of Celia's passing. I knew her well and attended many of her lectures. I use her book The Word of Life all the time. She opened the daily readings with scripture background. A great disciple of The Word

Mark Ciccone

December 15, 2022

Celia was not only smart and a real scholar. She was also involved with trying to bring understanding between religions which is so essential in today´s world. RIP Celia.

Sr. María Elizabeth B., Daughters of St. Paul

December 13, 2022

Celia was a gift to those who knew her, to those who were taught by her. Shy, but on fire for God's word, and God's people, she was able to connect with her students and participants in her seminars.

I remember with gratitude the course on St. Paul, offered for free one June (at her insistence) through the MAM program in Brighton. Her love for Paul, and for the working of the Holy Spirit in and through him and us was palpable and spread to the members of the class, bringing us to a deeper appreciation for Christ, for Paul, the Scriptures, and the action of the Holy Spirit today.

She taught so many of our sisters, postulants and novices over the years... such a gift to us! Her class on the Holy Spirit in Scripture (Paul / Acts) encouraged us to apply this to our life, and to "dream big."

Thank you, Celia, for listening to the Holy Spirit, and for your witness of joy in following the Lord.

May she rest in peace, in God, forever.

Margaret Kerry

December 13, 2022

Celia inspired me with insights into the Pauline letters and the whole of scripture. Mostly she inspired me by her living the Word of God in her everyday life and manners. Her insights into life directed me many times.
Sr Margaret Kerry, fsp

Sr Regina Dick, Daughters of St. Paul

December 13, 2022

Celia has been a very dear friend and mentor to me throughout almost 40 years of religious life. She taught Scripture to many of our sisters as part of our novitiate classes. In many ways, her classes were my most formative. It is because of her that I fell in love with Scripture because she brought the Word to life. She was a story teller, a scripture scholar (who studied under Raymond Brown), studied in archeological digs, was a literature scholar and a linguist who also taught Greek and Hebrew. On top of all that, she loved Paul. I can honestly say it is because of Celia, that I learned to love Paul. She was an apostle.

I am grateful to have studied Scripture with Celia while studying at St. John's Seminary Masters in Ministry program. She honored me by allowing me, in her last days of teaching to travel to parishes with her and to engage with the people of God through her classes.
I was always impressed with how hungry people were for the Word of God and how Celia connected with that hunger as she unfolded the Story that hinges each persons story.

In my eyes, she was a spiritual giant. But remember God's giants are humble. I have been separated from her in recent years because of Covid, so I have missed her for sometime. And this gives me great comfort now because I am confident she now is resting in the heart of the Risen Christ. Pray for us good friend. We are a better people because of you!

Deacon Peter Bujwid

December 12, 2022

Celia was a wonderful instructor teaching both the OT and NT to the future deacons of the class of 2019. She was always very kind to our class and to me, taking time with each person to make that special connection. I recall with a smile how at times her teaching was lifted by the wonderful joy she found in sacred scripture and as the Spirit himself came to visit - she would get unexpectedly excited. I loved that. May our good Lord welcome her with a smile and embrace her with eternal love. With gratitude -- Deacon Peter Bujwid

Deacon Alan Amaral

December 12, 2022

Celia was my OT and NT instructor during my first year of formation for the permanent diaconate. She was Kind and patient with everyone, and you could see and feel her love to educate and her love for God. She has touched the lives of many, leading them to God. Those who teach His people will shine like the stars in heaven.

Susan Repetti

December 12, 2022

The writer of the obituary had it right beginning with her intelligence. She was always 5 or 6 steps ahead of her seniors at Ursuline

Mary Kelley Donovan

December 12, 2022

My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Celia Sirius. I graduated from Ursuline in `76 and am eternally grateful for all I learned in her class. Less than a month ago in a group chat I shared the words "The glory of God is man fully alive," from Saint Irenaeus, something I learned in her class. One gentleman in the chat was then inspired to use the quote as the topic of his next prison ministry newsletter. More than 40 years later her teaching is still reverberating through the universe. May she rest in peace.
Mary Kelley Donovan

Deacon Matt Porter, Hingham Catholic Collaborative

December 12, 2022

Celia was my OT and NT instructor during my first year of formation for the permanent diaconate. I was always impressed by her intelligence, her kind and gentle demeanor, her love for the Word and for people. She really was a wonderful role model. May her memory be a blessing and a comfort to her family, friends, and all who loved her and were loved by her, and may she rest in Christ's peace. Eternal rest grant unto Celia, o Lord, and perpetual light shine upon her, and may Celia's soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.

Frank Tremblay

December 12, 2022

I rejoice when I heard them say let us go to the house of the Lord. REJOICE Celia! REJOICE!
- Dcn Frank Tremblay

Mory Thompson

December 12, 2022

I will always remember Celia, she has a special place in my heart. I'm very grateful to God for putting her in our lives in the Deaconate Program. I brought friends to the summer seminaries she so kindly gave. They were all so amaze at her knowledge. RIP Celia.

Ellen Dauwer, SC

December 11, 2022

Celia was a wonderful teacher at Ursuline and helped us/me to think deeply about life.

Cathy Harrington

December 11, 2022

Ceiling will always have a special place in my heart. She was one of my teachers in high school at Ursuline and then one of the instructors while my husband was in formation in the Diaconate. She was so smart, humble and kind. God Bless her.

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