Sister Geraldine Kelly (Ethel Thomas)

Kelly, Sister Geraldine (Ethel Thomas), 89, died in the QEII Health Sciences Centre, Infirmary site in Halifax, NS, on January 22, 2016.  Born in Quebec City, QC on March 28, 1926, she was a daughter of Thomas and Ethel (Burke) Kelly.  She entered the Sisters of Charity – Halifax on September 8, 1944 and professed her final vows on August 15, 1953.  She received a BA with a major in French from Mount Saint Vincent University in 1962 and later earned a M.A.T from St. Michael’s College, Vermont in 1972.  Sister Geraldine began her ministry as a teacher at St. Patrick School in Halifax where she remained for a year.  She then moved on to St. Stephen School in Halifax and taught Grade 1 and Sunday religion classes from 1948 to 1954.  Her next move brought her to Sillery, QC where she spent eight years teaching Grade 1 and also teaching French.  In Medford, MA she taught Kindergarten and religion classes from 1962 to 1965.  She then travelled to Arvida, QC where she continued her teaching from 1965 to 1973.  While in Arvida she also served on the parish council and was a representative on the Diocesan Religion Committee.  Her next mission was at Sacred Heart School in Bathurst, NB from 1973 until 1986.  Once again, she served on the parish council and was Coordinator of Catechetics for the Diocese of Bathurst.  From 1981 to 1986, she was a part of the Pastoral Center in Bathurst.  In 1986, she returned to Sillery, QC, where she volunteered at St. Brigid’s Home, became part of the Liturgical Committee for St. Patrick Parish, did some pastoral ministry work, was the local treasurer and the local historian.  In 1997, she moved to Mount Saint Vincent Motherhouse where she remained until some of the sisters were transferred to DePaul Hall in Parkstone.  When Caritas Residence was opened, she, along with the other sisters in DePaul Hall, were brought back to this facility.  In 2013, she was transferred to Parkstone Enhanced Care where she remained until her death.  Sister Geraldine is survived by her sister, Myrtle (Paul) Nadeau and by her brother, Desmond, along with several nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.  She was predeceased by her brothers Thomas, Paul, and Brian.  The body will be in Caritas Residence on Tuesday, January 26, with visitation from 3 pm until the Prayer Service at 7 pm.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 27, at 10 am in the Immaculate Conception Chapel in Caritas Residence.  Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville, NS.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Charity Ministry Fund.