Sister Hélène Maynard (Sister Marie-Hélène), age 88, a Sister of Providence for 65 years, diedJanuary 8, 2022, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, WA.
Sister Hélène, the second of nine children, was born in Joliette (near Montreal), Quebec, Canada on July 23, 1933 to Alphonse and Yvette (Rondeau) Maynard.
Sister Hélène noticed that the presence of the Sisters of Providence was appreciated by the people of the Montreal area, especially by the orphans, old men, and the poor. She never was educated by the Sisters of Providence, but their testimony of simplicity and poverty inspired her to become a Sister for the poor and sick. At the age of twenty-three, she decided to enter the Providence community in Montreal. She became a novice in 1956, professed first vows in 1958, and perpetual vows in 1963.
Sister Hélène earned a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree in 1968 from Montreal University.
Her nursing assignments were in various Quebec hospitals, as well as in Cameroon and Haiti. In 1996 after nearly 40 years of ministry as a nurse in Quebec, Canada. She moved to Portland, Ore., and took ESL classes at Clark College in nearby Vancouver, WA. She was missioned to the infirmary at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, to take care of the Canadian sisters. She also provided pastoral care at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle. In 2002 she received permission to transfer to the Mother Joseph Province community (of Western United States) from the Emilie Community of Montreal. She retired in 2009 and moved to St. Joseph Residence.
Sister Hélène is survived by one sister: Monique Maynard of Laval, Quebec; and three brothers: Roland Maynard of Montreal, Quebec; Robert Maynard of Valleyfield, Quebec; and Marcel Maynard of Montreal, Quebec, nieces and nephews, and by the Sisters in her community.
To view Sr. Hélène’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com.
Sister Mary Kathleen Cummings (Sister Katrina), age 90, a Sister of Providence for 75 years, died January 2, 2022, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, WA
Sister Mary K., as she is fondly known, was born in Spokane, WA. on August 7, 1931 to William S. and Catherine (Nichols) Cummings. She was their third child.
She grew up around women religious, having been taught by the Sisters of the Holy Names in grade school and by the Franciscan Sisters at Marycliff High School. One of her aunts was a Sister of Providence, Sister Francis Maureen, SP. Having a religious calling and being drawn to the possibility of many different ministry opportunities as a Sister of Providence, Sister Mary K. became a novice in 1951, received first vows in 1952 and final vows in 1955.
Her educational achievements included: a BA in Education from College of Great Falls (now University of Providence); and an MBA in 1962 from Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA.
Sister Mary K.’s many ministries were in education, pastoral care, religious community leadership, and as a treasurer and volunteer. As a teacher she ministered at: St. Francis Xavier School, Missoula, MT. (1952-54, 1957-60); Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Wallace, ID (1954-55); Providence of Mary School, Des Met, ID (1955-56); St. Gerald School, Great Falls, MT. (1956-57); Sacred Heart Academy, Missoula, MT. (1957-60); De Sales Central Catholic High School, Walla Walla, WA. (1969-72). As a treasurer, De Sales Central Catholic High School (1969-72); College of Great Falls (1962-67); St. Thomas Home, Great Falls, MT. (1972). In Religious Community Leadership; Administrator, Mount St. Joseph, Spokane, WA. (1987-89); Local Superior, Mount. St. Joseph (1986-89, 2001-04); Local Superior, Emilie Court Assisted Living, Spokane, WA. (2001-04); Provincial Councilor, St. Ignatius Province (1992-99). She was pastoral associate at St. Joachim Catholic Church, Hayward, California (1983-85) and St. Anthony Parish, Missoula, MT. (1985-86). She volunteered at Women’s Hearth, Spokane, WA., and the Religious Community Library in Spokane.
In 2018, Sister Mary K. graciously made the transition from Spokane to St. Joseph Residence in Seattle, WA. She relished the view over Puget Sound and, frequently, the beautiful sunsets. Her gentle spirit touched everyone near her.
Sister Mary K. is preceded in death by her parents and her two brothers. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, and by the Sisters in her community.
To view Sr. Mary K.’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com.