(Sister Terrance)
Born in Detroit and raised in Sun Valley, Calif., Sister Mary Grondin entered the Sisters of Providence in 1955, part of the first class in the College of Sister Formation. Enrolled in nursing studies, she was asked to leave in her senior year and teach sixth grade at St. Catherine’s School, Seattle.
After completing her nursing degree, she ministered for 11 years in acute-care hospitals, mainly in obstetrics, in Astoria, Medford and Portland, Ore., Port Townsend, Wash., and Oakland, Calif. She also was a school nurse and counselor for 10 years.
After an internship in housing management in Denver, Colo., she served for seven years managing Vincent House, Seattle. She also had oversight for construction and management of Providence House, supportive housing for HIV/AIDS patients in Oakland.
She retired from housing ministry 10 years ago because of health reasons, but she became a CASA volunteer with troubled foster and abused children and served on several boards, including the community board in Medford, Ore., and Providence Senior and Community Services. She resides in Seattle.