From 1981 to 1998 Sister Margaret’s ministry was in pastoral care at St. Vincent Hospital, Portland, Ore.; St. Joseph Medical Center, Burbank, Calif.; St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Oxnard,Calif.; and St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Yakima, Wash. In 1999 she continued volunteering in pastoral care, parish ministry and services to women and children in Yakima.

In 2000 Sister Margaret retired to St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, where she enjoyed walking and hiking, watching sports events, listening to classical music and spending cherished time with family, friends and her sisters in community.

Sr. Margaret is preceded in death by her parents; her sister Patricia (Kelly) Mayer; and brothers, James Kelly and Jerry Kelly. She is survived by her nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016. To view Sr. Margaret’s obituary and sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at bonneywatson.com. l

Jeannette Parent, SP(Sister Blasius)

Sister Jeannette Parent, age 96, a Sister of Providence for 71 years, died April 22, 2019, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Wash.

Jeannette Marie Parent was born October 22, 1922 to Louis Joseph and Auxilia Marie (Parent), Baker, Montana. She was the eighth of eleven children (and a twin). Jeannette entered the Sisters of Providence in July 1947 at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, Wash., and in January 1948, she became a novice. In July 1949 she professed first vows and received the name Sister Blasius. In July 1952 she professed final vows.

Jeannette graduated in 1940 from St. Joseph Academy, Sprague, Wash. In 1955, Jeannette earned her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification from St. Peter Hospital, School of Nursing, Olympia, Wash., and later was also licensed in the state of Montana in 1972. She received a certificate in pharmacology in 1979 from Spokane Community College. In 1986 she received Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) from Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane.

Sister Jeannette’s first ministry from 1949 to 1955 was as a care companion at Mount St. Vincent Home for the Aged, now Providence Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, Wash. From 1956 to 1986 she ministered in numerous roles in nursing, pastoral care and community service in Oregon at St. Mary Hospital, Astoria; and in Washington at Providence Hospital, Seattle, and again at Mount St. Vincent; Providence Hospital,

Rest in Peace

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Alice St. Hilaire, SP(Sister Mary Georgetta)

Sister Alice St. Hilaire, age 90, a Sister of Providence for 70 years, died December 27, 2018, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle.

Alice Theodora St. Hilaire was born September 2, 1928, to Leo and Helen (Kohls) St. Hilaire in Yakima, Wash. She was the oldest of eight children. Alice entered the Sisters of Providence in November 1947 at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, and in May 1948 she became a novice. In November 1949 she professed first vows and received the name Sister Mary Georgetta, and in November 1952 she professed final vows.

Alice graduated in 1946 from St. Joseph Academy, Yakima.

In 1956 Sister Alice earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the College of Great Falls, now the University of Providence in Great Falls, Mont. Sister Alice received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from St. Louis University, Mo., in 1961, where she also earned certification from the Institute of Religious Formation.

Sister Alice’s first ministry from 1950 to 1956 was in education as a teacher at Sacred Heart Academy (now St. Francis Xavier), Missoula, Mont.; St. Catherine School, Seattle; St. Vincent Academy (now St. Patrick School), Walla Walla, Wash; and Immaculate Conception School, Anchorage, Ala.

After receiving her Ph.D. in 1961, she taught philosophy for 13 years, first on the faculty of Seattle University at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle; Providence Heights College of Sister Formation, Issaquah, Wash.; Seattle University; and St. Thomas Seminary in Kenmore, Wash.

In 1973 Sister Alice returned to St. Louis University for a program at the Institute of Religious Formation. She continued her ministry in formation, then spiritual direction, followed by positions as director of retirement and provincial councilor. She also served for seven years at Providence Hospitality House.

In 1990 Sister Alice moved to central Washington to care for her mother. She stayed involved as a spiritual director and served on the Yakima Diocesan Vocation Committee.

In 2004 she was honored for her lifelong commitment to the ministry of formation during the Religious Formation Conference’s 50th Jubilee in the Northwest.

In 2015 Sister Alice retired to St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, where she enjoyed prayer, exercise, time outdoors, reading and spending cherished time with family, friends and her sisters in community.

Sister Alice is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Lucy, SP; and brothers, Jim and Tom. She is survived by her sister, Mary Roy (Leonard); brothers, Tim (Pat), Ted (Katie), Paul (Krista); nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016. To view Sr. Alice’s obituary and sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at bonneywatson.com. l

Mary Margaret Kelly, SP(Sister Patrice Marie)

Sister Mary Margaret Kelly, age 90, a Sister of Providence for 64 years, died February 24, 2019, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle.

Mary Margaret Kelly was born March 20, 1928, to William Harold and Elizabeth (Motzer) Kelly, Olympia, Wash. She was the third of four children. Mary Margaret entered the Sisters of Providence in February 1954 at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, and in August 1954 she became a novice. In February 1956 she professed first vows and received the name Sister Patrice Marie, and in February 1959 she professed final vows.

Mary Margaret graduated in 1947 from Olympia High School, Olympia, Wash. In 1950 she earned a nursing degree from St. Peter School of Nursing in Olympia, and went on to earn her professional nurses’ certifications in Washington and Oregon.

Sister Margaret’s first ministry from 1956 to 1960 was as a nursing supervisor in Providence Seattle Medical Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, and Sacred Heart Hospital, Medford, Ore. Then

from 1960 to 1962 Sister Margaret was the assistant director of the School of Nursing at Providence Portland.

In 1962 Sister Margaret began studying in Cuernavaca, Mexico. She joined five Sisters of Providence for missionary work in Argentina from 1963 to 1980. She minis-tered in Comodoro Rivadavia and Caleta Olivia as a surgical nurse, medical supervi-sor, pastoral care provider and catechist.

In 1980 Sister Margaret returned to Seattle and took part in the CREDO sabbatical program of theological renewal at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash. She also completed a pastoral education program in 1992, and in 1993 she received her chaplain certification.

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Jeannette Parent, SP...(Sister Blasius)

From 1986-2000 she became the director of Emilie House, a Northeast Portland Housing of Urban Development (HUD-assisted) project founded by the Sisters of Providence.

In late 1985 Sister Alexis travelled to Jerusalem for a biblical study program in the Holy Land. In 1986 she travelled to England and Ireland, and in 1991 toured Russia and Hungary. In 1998 Sister Alexis went to El Salvador for a cultural experience to be with her sisters and minister to the poor.

In 2001 Sister Alexis retired and moved to St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, where she volunteered and became the treasurer of St. Joseph Residence, in addition to being a Retirement Trust Committee trustee from 2003 to 2012. Her favorite pastimes were reading mysteries, travelling and spending cherished time with family, friends and her sisters in community.

Sr. Alexis is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister, Rosemary Theresa Melancon Peacock, nephews and nieces.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016. To view Sister Alexis’ obituary and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at bonneywatson.com. l

Frances Munson, PAFrances Marie

(Fischer) Munson, age 91, a long-time Providence Associate, died March 4, 2019, in Vancouver, Wash.

Fran was born June 24, 1927, in Vancouver, Wash., to Frank and Molly Fischer.

Fran received her education in Portland and Vancouver, attending Providence Academy, Clark Community College, and Marylhurst University where she received her bachelor’s degree in education. While raising her children, she attended University of Portland and received her master’s degree in education.

Most of her 30+ years of teaching were at St. Joseph Catholic School in Vancouver. Prior to that, she was a substitute teacher in the Portland and Vancouver public school districts.

Fran was proud of her 25+ years of volunteer service, including chairman of the volunteer staff at SW Washington Medical Center’s ICU/CCU department; Eucharistic minister, sacristan, CCD teacher at the Washington School for the Deaf, and Providence Associate.

Everett; and Mount St. Joseph, Spokane, Wash.; in Montana at Saint Clare Hospital, Fort Benton; and Columbus Hospital and St. Thomas Center, Great Falls. Then from 1987 to 1995 Sister Jeannette was in pastoral care and community service at St. Joseph Care Center and Mount St. Joseph in Spokane.

In 1995 Sister Jeannette retired and continued her ministry as an active volunteer until 2012, when she moved from Spokane to St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, where she enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, taking walks, doing handicrafts and spending cherished time with family, friends and her sisters in community.

Sr. Jeannette is preceded in death by her parents, six sisters, including her twin Sister Annette, and four brothers. She is survived by her nephews and nieces.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016. To view Sr. Jeannette’s obituary and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at bonneywatson.com. l

Barbara (Alexis) Melancon, SP(Sister Alexis)

Sister Alexis Melancon, age 91, a Sister of Providence for 68 years, died April 25, 2019, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Wash.

Barbara Jeanne Melancon was born November 19, 1927, to Henry Joseph Melancon and Mary Helen Melancon (Flaherty), Portland, Ore. She was the youngest of two daughters. Barbara entered the Sisters of Providence in November 1949 at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, and in May 1950 she became a novice. In November 1951 she professed first vows and received the name Sister Alexis. In November 1955 she professed final vows.

Barbara graduated in 1945 from St. Vincent Academy in Walla Walla. In 1949 Barbara earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in

psychology/sociology from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn. She attended the College of Great Falls, Mont., in the summer of 1952, other colleges in

Southern California, and in 1969 received her Master of Education from the University of Washington. Also, in 1988 she became a licensed housing manager certified by the National Leased Housing Association, Portland, Ore.

Sister Alexis’ ministry of 34 years was in education as an elementary/secondary teacher, counselor and principal. From 1951 to 1985 she served at Sacred Heart School,

Tacoma, Wash; Holy Family School, Seattle; St. Joseph School, Yakima, Wash.; Providence Academy, Vancouver, Wash.; Catholic Junior High School, Anchorage, Ala.; and Providence High School and St. Finbar School, in Burbank, Calif.

Betty Harrington, PABetty Jule

Harrington, age 95, a long-time Providence Associate, died March 5, 2019, at Providence Emilie Court Assisted Living, Spokane, Wash.

Betty was born April 5, 1923, in Butte, Mont., to Jerry and Lela Harrington. She was the third of four children.

Betty received her diploma from St. James School of Nursing in 1944 and served in the Army Nurse Corps from 1944 to 1946. After eight years as a nursing supervi-sor in San Francisco, she entered Gonzaga University’s nursing program where she completed a Bachelor of Science in nursing education in 1956. She received a Master of Education from Gonzaga in 1964.

Betty joined the staff of Providence Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane in 1954 as a clinical instructor for the Sacred Heart School of Nursing in 1956, where she served as the director until the school closed in 1973. She then established the Educational Services department at Sacred Heart Medical Center and served as the director until her retirement in 1989.

Betty served on the Washington State Board of Nursing, the Board of Directors of the Washington State Nurses Association, and the Inland Empire Nurses Association. She also was an examiner for the National League for Nursing. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Nurse and Lifetime Achievement awards from the Inland Empire Nurses Association and received the Washington State Nurses Association Excellence Award in 1989. Upon her retire-ment after 35 years of service, Betty received the Sacred Heart Honor Award for her outstanding contribution and service to Sacred Heart Medical Center. She was also recognized with the Sisters of Providence Mother Joseph Award in 2003 and received the Sister Peter Claver Humanitarian Award

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9Fran had a loving, rich life with Gene and

their five daughters. She loved her family, traveling, pulls on the one-armed bandit, beach trips, laughing and games.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, John; a sister, Frances; and a niece. She is survived by her brother Jerry (Pearl), nieces, nephews and other family members.

Fran is preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Bea, Oliver, Bernard, Kay, Donald and Maureen; and Fran’s eldest daughter, Paula. She is survived by her husband, Gene; daughters, Molly Zinda (Danny), Jan Bennett (Roger), Lori Melnick (Rich) and MaryKay Munson-Syverson (Brett); and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Joseph Catholic School Tuition Fund, Vancouver, Wash., in her name. l

P LEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Robert Fuller, PARobert Fuller, age 75, a long-time

Providence Associate, died May 10, 2019, in Seattle, Wash.

Bob was born in Hooksett, New Hampshire, July 4, 1943. He attended Pembroke Academy in Pembroke, N.H., then went on to study nursing at New Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord, N.H. Later he studied philosophy at Dartmouth College, as well as philosophical theology and nursing at Seattle University. Bob was a member of St. Theresa Parish in Seattle and served as Voucher Program Coordinator at Seattle Area Support Groups.

“Brother” Bob was is remembered as “a wonderful fellow...so kind, understanding, helpful and deeply spiritual.” He lived his life helping others and was the face of Providence to many. l

Dorothy Miller, PADorothy Miller, age 89, a

long-time Providence Associate, died March 15 in Spokane, Wash.

Dorothy was born the third of seven children to parents Mary (Howard) Kofmehl and Eugene Kofmehl in Spokane, Wash.

She is remembered for her unlimited devotion to family and friends, and for her countless hours of volunteer work for the elderly and homeless. In 2010 Dorothy was recog-nized as Volunteer of the Year by Catholic Charities Volunteer Chore Services.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter Joan (Gary) Proctor; sons Bill (Diana) Miller, Tim (Suzy), and John Miller; brothers Pat Kofmehl (Janelle) and Jerry Kofmehl; thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband William Miller, daughter Jayne Auld, son David Miller, and daughter-in-law Lisa Morger-Miller.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dorothy’s name to Catholic Charities of Spokane. l

Eunice Glass, PAEunice Glass, age 101, a long-time

Providence Associate, died April 7, 2019, in Bainbridge Island, Wash.

Eunice was born in Lancashire, England, June 9, 1917, to Albert and Harriet Labrow.

She and her family moved to the U.S. when she was three. She was raised in Laguna Beach, Calif., and became an avid swimmer. It was there she met the love of her life, Ralph Curtis Glass,

with whom she had three children.Eunice was an active volunteer in the

many communities where she and her family

lived over the years. Her career highlight was serving as director of personnel at Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, Wash. Eunice wrapped up her career at age 85 as a front desk receptionist for the Sisters of Providence.

She was known for sending handwritten cards to 150 sisters at every holiday. Her legacy is love well, serve others, be honest, and love your family and God.

Eunice is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, and son, Dick. She is survived by children Steve (Phyllis), Susie Glass Burdick (Steve), four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. l

ab

Sami Taylor, sister-in-law of Dona Taylor, SP, died Jan. 3, in Hermiston, Ore.

Jerry Butler, brother of Anita Butler, SP, died Jan. 30, in San Bernardino, Calif.

Donald Taylor, brother of Dona Taylor, SP, died Jan. 31, in Hermiston, Ore.

Janet Welsh, a member of the Peace Community, died Feb. 6, in Tacoma, Wash.

Louise Dumont, CSJP, died Feb. 8 in Bellevue, Wash.

Mary Lou Tremblay, sister of Patricia Weidinger, PA, died March 6, in Chicago, Ill.

Shirley Montante, mother of Carla Montante, SP, died April 9, in Olympia, Wash.

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in 1995. Betty was inducted into the Washington State Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 1996.

Betty was very active as a Providence Associate, becoming a provincial coordinator forSt. Ignatius Province and a co-director for the Mother Joseph Province.

In lieu of flowers, Betty has requested that memorial contributions be made to Catholic Charities for the Homeless Population, Hospice of Spokane, or another charity of your choice. l

Sisters of ProvidenceProvincial Administration1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016Renton, WA 98057-9016

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Want to subscribe to this newsletter? Send your name and address to anita.wilkins@providence.org.

Transitions goes green to end poverty

The high cost of some green technologies can make them inaccessible to low-income families. Recognizing that access to this technology is an issue of justice for those they serve, Transitions worked to break down the barriers to the participants in their programs, which aim to end poverty and homelessness for women and children in Spokane, Wash.

Transitions put several environ-mentally-friendly technologies into use in 2018. They were gifted a hybrid vehicle for delivering catering

Lew Ogilvie retires after 55 years with Providence

After more than five decades of service to Providence, Lew Ogilvie, mailroom coordinator, retired earlier this year. A farewell celebration January 10, 2019, paid tribute to his 55-year tenure, including remarks from several Sisters of Providence; Rod Hochman, president and CEO, Providence St. Joseph Health; and other staff.

Lew started with Providence Hospital as a janitor in 1963 at the urging of a sister. After graduating from Seattle University, he opened a print shop at the hospital, which he ran for 30 years. As the health system grew, so did Lew’s responsi-bilities, and he soon added mail-room supervisor to his duties. Lew was recognized with a Mother Joseph Award in 2014 in honor of his significant accomplishments and contributions to the Sisters of Providence. l

Learn more about life as a Sister of Providence:

vocations@providence.org509-474-2323 or 206-979-0577

orders from their program’s bakery café and transporting women between shelters. They incorporated energy-saving technologies into 15 new ultra-efficient housing units for low-income families. And they added solar panels to the roof of the women’s shelter, which is expected to decrease electric-ity expenses by 55% — the cost to cover services for five women for a full year.

Sisters of Providence is one of four congregations of women religious that sponsor the Transitions inter-community ministry in Spokane. l

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Stay in touch with Sisters of Providence

tSister Susanne Hartung, with Lew Ogilvie at his farewell celebration.

pBarbara Cox (center) is welcomed as a Providence Companion by Sister Jo Anne Showalter, provincial councilor (left), and Sister Judith Desmarais, provincial leader, during a ceremony at Providence Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, on April 25, 2019. Providence Companions are former Sisters of Providence who left the religious community but wish to continue a formal relationship with members of the congregation and engage with the Sisters of Providence in ministry and prayer.

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