I was saddened to read of Sister Catherine's death. Many years ago I was a part time cook at Saint Theresa's convent and loved her. Her shortbread cookies were legendary .Sister Catherine had a way of making you feel as special  as she was to everyone. I'm sure she's singing with the angels now.

I was one of the fortunate ones who actually had Mother St. Charles as my teacher for 2 years in a row.  1950 was her first year in Sydney at Constantine School where she taught 6th grade. The next year she taught the same class in 7th grade.  Naturally , we all were thrilled! She certainly was my favorite teacher for so many reasons. She truly was such a unique  and wonderful person who had such a special connection with all her students. She was very influential in so many of our lives and kept in touch with us for a lifetime. She always remembered you  and   was so interested in what you were doing & your family .It was my pleasure that when she was visiting Los Angeles she took time to come by and  enjoy a meal with my family.
I am so grateful , I was able to help celebrate  her 100th Birthday and  to have known her all these many  years .She will be missed by all who knew her & especially my family.

Sister Catherine is, to me, Mother St. Charles!  I was 11 years old and in Grade 7 at what once was, Constantine School in Ashby.  Her stories stayed with me all these years and I have repeated them frequently. She was an excellent teacher, and she loved her nieces and nephews of whom she spoke often.  I'm smiling as I type.  To think that Mother St. Charles lived to celebrate her 100th birthday!  My sympathy to her families, both CND and her extended family. She is, no doubt, enjoying that heavenly reward that she taught us about so many years ago.  May she rest in peace. 

Sister Catherine was a great lady,  very kind and thoughtful, and always ready to help her students. She will be missed! 

Sister Tootsie was a truly wonderful woman who had nothing but positive things to say about anyone. Irene and I had visited Tootsie several years ago up at the Convent and enjoyed our visit and I found this picture.
I will add....in Irish mythology Tir na nOg is the place of the blessed.....may Tootsie rest peacefully  in Tir na nOg. God Bless.
Allen and Irene Gallagher     Watertown Mass USA

Always full of  prayers, love and support! 

Sister Tootsie so enjoyed her beautiful families & wonderful celebrations with her sisters, Big Irene, our mom Chris & Anna Mae, sister in law our Aunt Betty, her nieces, Irene & Debbie, Joanne & Wayne (not in picture)Debbie’s daughter Dawn & daughter in law Victoria, Georgina & her daughter Gail! We so loved her amazing spirit & enjoyed listening to her stories of her world travels & experiences. Our mom will so miss talking with Tootsie daily. Our Mom, Chris is a wonderful mom, grandmother (6) & great grandmother (12) &  wife & sister who always sees the best in everyone & remembers everyone’s bdays & so thoughtful & giving to her family & friends! Tootsie knew & so appreciated her! We are blessed to have Sister Tootsie in our lives!❤️ Chris, The Augusta & Gallagher Families 

Sister Tootsie, 
We so appreciate all the prayers & kindness you always showed to the Augusta Family.  We so appreciated your thoughtfulness in remembering our family in your prayers & attribute your prayers to our families happiness & success! We will always keep you in our thoughts & prayers! Will miss you but know you are at peace because of the wonderful & giving life you have led!
 Love, Bob & Debbie Augusta & family

 Tootsie was my  Aunt  and she  was such an important part of our lives.    We have great memories of Tootsie’s visits to Boston with May, Uncle Charlie and  Shortie . Tootsie loved her  100th  birthday party  this year on zoom.   She looked wonderful and she wore a beautiful dress and a tiara.  
Tootsie would always end the conversation with I love you and I will pray for you !!  
Love, 
Irene Gallagher and family 

I would like to thank everyone for the beautiful condolences that have been sent for my sister Tootsie. She was an amazing woman and I am lucky that I have so many memories of her.  
Tootsie was very accomplished in her  profession as an educator.Tootsie loved teaching and she kept in touch with many of her students.  
A special thank you to Tootsie’s CND family. I am forever grateful,
 Chris McGillivray

This morning, I was saddened to hear of Sister Catherine's passing.  She was an amazing teacher with so much love and respect of her students.  Sister was a friend of our family in Inverness and shared time with my aunt, Sister Frances Beaton, in many of our family events.  I wish to send condolences to the MacDonald family and her CND family who became a part of our's.  

With deepest sympathy,
Eileen

Dear Chris. I am so saddened to hear that Sr tootsie passed away. I am now living at Parkland and I used to see her every day and we would always talk about you and the rest of the family in New Waterford. She was a remarkable warm compassionate lady and I missed her when she went to McGillvary. 
 She  always kept me in touch  and how you were doing She was always in touch with Louie who was on the 3rd floor . 
Chris, you are the  last surviving member of your family, as I am of mine.
I want to send my love and deepest condolences on the loss of your dear  sister Tootsie 
Hope to see you here soon.
Love from your friend TOOTSIE



My memory of Mother St. Charles is forever etched in my heart. She was my and my brother Alexander's Grade 10 teacher at Iona High School in 1957. Alexander and I always agreed that Mother St. Charles was the best and most influential teacher we ever had. She revealed herself to us, as a real woman, a real person with a real family, about whom she spoke warmly and with humour. She told us stories of her niece and nephew, I remember particularly Bubs.  She talked to us about us, our lives, our music. We liked the Everly Brothers, whose songs Bye Bye Love, and Wake up Little Susie, were popular and by today's standards pretty mild but in 1957, provocative and she talked to us about the power of lyrics. She valued us as persons and encouraged us on to university and in later years, followed our lives and continued her interest in family members, attending funerals and celebratory events of friends and family in Iona. Mother St. Charles was the best. My heart warms when I think of her. Condolences to her family and CND friends. 

Sympathy is extended to Sister's loved ones and family from Dernie and I.  Sister Catherine 's brother, John, was married to my first cousin, Marie (although a generation in age difference).  Sister also taught me in Grade X1 at Judique-Creignish.  We stayed in contact throughout the years. She lived a full life for sure.  God Bless..❤️
Aneas (MacMaster) Gillis

As a fellow Religious woman, I extend my condolences to the Congregation .  May Sister rest in Eternal Peace with God, whom she served so well and so generously by serving HIS people. Assurance of prayer...S. Mary, asc, Springfield, Illinois, formerly of Glace Bay, NS 

To Sister Catherine's family and CND family, my sincere condolences on the passing of such a wonderful lady.  I first met Sister Catherine a few years ago when I was moving my aunt into Parkland.  I was there one evening getting my aunt's apartment set up prior to her arrival and Sister Catherine knocked on the door and introduced herself...we had a lovely chat that evening.  She was the first of many of the sisters that I had the pleasure of meeting.  I always looked to see if she was around whenever I would be visiting my aunt...I very much enjoyed running into her and we would always have chat about anything and everything.  Unfortunately during the beginning of COVID, I was unable to visit and my aunt sadly passed away.  I did get to visit with Sister Catherine one more time...it was just after my aunt had passed away and I was cleaning out her room....I asked the coordinators at Parkland if they could arrange for me to visit with her and she came up to my aunt's room and we had a great visit.  During that visit I asked of favour of her....I was to do a reading at my aunt's funeral and I wanted her to choose something for me.... she chose Ecclesiastes 3...to everything there is a season and a time and purpose under heaven.....   I told her I was nervous to speak at the funeral and she was so encouraging and told me I was going to do just fine and made me promise that I would do the reading....and I did.  During that visit she also asked a favour of me....that I come back and visit her.... sadly I never did get to return the favour and visit with her again.  The pandemic has certainly caused many missed opportunities.  I have thought of her often and I will always remember and cherish our visits and chats.  Thank you Sister Catherine for caring and for your friendship.  May you rest in peace dear lady.

We lived next to the convent in Iona.Sister st Charles along with sister st Agnes were such good friends of mom.I was an altar boy and one of the most tragic things that happened was the tragic death of Father Dan E by the highway as I awaited him at church  Thursday morning Dec 1 
Sr st charles helped us thru this traumatic event.Sr catherine on every occasion that we met would say "Remember you are to be a pallbearer at my funeral" we treasured a lifetime of sincere friendship.

 Sr. Catherine was a wonderful lady. To her immediate family and CND family please accept my sympathy and condolences.
I was fortunate to meet Sr. Tootsie through my daughter and son in law (Jerome & Andrea Beaton)
She was a remarkable lady and her wisdom and beautiful personality and smile will be missed.

Rest in Peace,
Jean Hatfield, Port Hood


To Sr. Catherine's  family and her CND family, please accept our sympathy on the loss of this gem.
Sister Tootsie and our Aunt; Sr. Frances Beaton (Burga) were the best of friends beginning in their elementary years in Inverness. 
As friends, they studied together, taught together and travelled together. Sr. Tootsie was a frequent visitor at my grandmothers house at the Corner in Inverness and we always looked forward to her visits,
During Sr. Frances' wake ( Feb 2020 )she made herself comfortable and began to tell us how they became life long friends; where their love for higher learning and God brought them each summer for summer school. Ottawa, Boston, and Washington to name a few.
Whenever we would see her or talk to her on the phone she always wanted to know how everyone was. 
We cherished our time and conversations with her. Her conversations always ended with; " I am praying for you all,"
I can just hear her ;"You can't imagine how beautiful it is here,"
We will miss you,
Rest in Peace,
Jerome, Andrea, Liam, Mitchell & Lowell Beaton
Hammonds Plains, NS ( Inverness)


Condolences to all Sister Catherine's (Tootsie's) relatives.  She was fortunate to live to a great age.  May she rest in peace.

Roberta MacInnis-Edmond
Port Hawkesbury

I had the great good fortune to teach with Sister Catherine many years ago in Sydney River.  She was a French teacher, and I was beginning my teaching career in the English Department. I was well educated, well read, and of course I knew nothing.  There were times Sister Catherine would advise me on how to approach a particular student, especially those with emotional or learning challenges.  I always listened to her advice politely, but with the arrogance of youth, wondered if what she suggested was the indeed the best course of action.  In a short time, I came to realize that Sister Catherine was often correct in her appraisals; soon I knew that her advice was always right.

Observing Sister Catherine's care and concern for her students was inspiring.  I think that her example helped to inform my choice to work, as much as possible, with those students who struggled to succeed and survive in the school system.   
In my post retirement career, I work for a non-profit organization that assists mature individuals with educational and/or psychological barriers to employment. Sister Catherine's teaching precepts, focusing on individual needs, hold as true now as they did those many years ago. I would like to think that she would approve of the work I have undertaken.

It is said that teachers touch the future, and one tends to think of this in terms of their interactions with their young charges.  But in sister Catherine's instance, it also reflects the positive influence she had upon those lucky enough to work with her.  In that sense, we were all her students.

Requiescat in pace
Brian MacDonald


Sister Catherine, or Mother St. Charles as she was better known during her "Iona Days" at Rankin Memorial, left a lasting impression of what it was meant to be a Teacher Servant. Not only was she admired, appreciated and loved  by those who sat in her classroom, but also by the Parish of St. Columba as a whole. Well done good and faithful servant! Now enter into the reward God has prepared for you. Sincere condolences to her immediate family and her CND family.  You will be missed but we are grateful that you spent time with us. RIP.

We were saddened to learn of Sr. Tootsie’s passing.
She was a valued family friend &  we have fond memories of  good times spent with her.
Please accept our sincere sympathy.
Linda & Maureen Laffin 

I knew Sr.Catherine personally,as she knew my parents,and my father was an Invernesser so that clanished attitude  was always there ,whenever , they would meet.Over the years we would meet for different occasions,and one summer when my brother was home we celebrated his 25 th anniversary with the Franciscans, Friars  another of the C.N.D  invited Sr Catherine to accompany her...my brother was in his mid fifties at the time so he greets Sr Catherine by looking at her why Sr.MacDonald you taught me when I was in grade 5,and the look of astonishment on her face,and the smile  when he said look at what you helped to createThe fact that eleven year old boy could remember her so clearly after spending so much of his life in the west  would you show you what a lovely lady ,and how fondly she will always be remembered.I am so very fortunate to have come across Sr Catherine while she lived with us as at the Health Centre ,and it was such a privilege to be able to share this time with her,as we would talk about the special memories of her Mom having sunflowers in front of their home,how much she missed her sister that past away such a short while ago,but the best memory for me was a day we sat in  the courtyard with the sun beaming down us,and when we came up we would play some Scottish music,and we would both be lost in the soulful sounds of the violin,and I would say I can see my father dancing around the kitchen,and she would smile as I know she understood.Very blessed,and thankful that I had the opportunity to be with her during these days on her way home to place far better than even Inverness .My sympathy to Sr.Catherine’s family,and her C.N.D. community.

A wonderful lady!!  I worked at St Theresa's convent for a number of years and it was the best job I ever had!!  I have so many great memories of my time there.  I had so many wonderful conversations with Tootsie and will always cherish my time with her.  RIP my friend!

So heartbroken at the loss of this beautiful Lady both inside and out. She was a great friend and mentor to me and especially to my Husband Laurier. We had many chats, gatherings and outings. We will miss you dearly Sister, but knowing you are in Gods hands makes us happy.  Rest well, our love and prayers are always with you.  Our deepest sympathy to all the family and especially the CND members. Respectfully  Laurier & Betty Wells. 🙏🙏❤️

So sorry to read of Sister Catherine passing  she was a great lady we love her at St, Theresa I will keep Her & the Family in my prayers 
May God Bless you all

My sincere condolences to Sr. Catherine's family and the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame. I've been blessed to call her a friend.  We have had many laughs over the years. The last time we spoke was on the day of her 100th birthday,  and I will cherish that conversation. She was a great friend to my late mother Beatrice MacRury and I'm sure they are both together again in friendship. 

Rest in peace Sr. Catherine 

Sincerely,  Anne MacRury MacIntyre 

So very sad to hear 💔 Sr, Catherine always took the time to stop and talk awhile whenever we crossed paths,  always asking about my parents ,will miss our meeting Sister RIP in Gods Hands 💔💔🙏🙏🙏🙏

Was saddened to hear of sister death I love her she was always happy  to listening and to give encouragement she will be missed go faith servant RIP

She visit my sick sister and always talk to me about her children and how they were doing very kind hearted lady  I'm sure she's in heaven as she was an angel on earth

OBITUARIO

Sr. Catherine M MacDonald

2 mayo, 1921 – 30 junio, 2021

T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel

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