O’Connor, Sister Eva (Joseph Francis), 100, died in Caritas Residence, Halifax, NS, on July 2, 2016. Born in Lowell, NB on June 9, 1916, she was a daughter of Herbert and Mary Emily (Melanson) O’Connor. Sister Eva entered the Sisters of Charity – Halifax on January 31, 1935 and made her perpetual profession of vows on August 15, 1943. At the outset of her ministry in education, she received a BSc in Home Economics which served as the basis of her teaching career. She served in many areas in the Maritimes including Prospect, Terence Bay, Reserve, and New Waterford, all in Nova Scotia. This time of service lasted from 1940 until 1956. A short period of illness interrupted her ministry, but in 1957, she resumed her teaching, this time in Micmac and Amherst, NS; Vancouver and Kelowna, BC, until 1977.
After that time period, Sister Eva ministered in parishes, visited the elderly, especially at St. Brigid’s Home in Quebec, and served as school librarian in Cranbrook, BC. Her ministry also took her to Edmonton, AB, Bathhurst, NB and Sillery, QC. Retirement from active ministry came in 1998 but she continued her ministry as a volunteer. In 2008, Sister Eva moved to Caritas Residence, Halifax, where she remained until her death. She is survived by her sister, Lillian Green, Sussex, NB; by her nephews John (Nancy) Hopper, Halifax, NS, Sheldon (Geri) Hopper, Hillsborough, NB, Ron (Janice) MacDow, Berwick, NS, Clayton (Marquita) McKinley, Edmonton, AB and Bert (Myrna) McEachern, Moncton, NB; by her nieces Beverly (Alister) McGillivary, Cape Breton, Beverly (Jim) Green, Tofino, BC, Sharon (Hans) Derouaux, Bathurst, NB; and by her grandnieces and grandnephews, Jason, Kate, Julie and Mark Hopper. She was predeceased by her sisters, Miriam Wright, Mary MacEachern, Bernice McKinley and Zita MacDow; and by her brothers Bert, Rod, and Carlton. The body will be in Caritas Residence on Tuesday, July 5. with visitation from 3 pm until the Prayer Service at 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 6, 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.