Abigail Reid

Sister Abigail Reid died peacefully at Cape Cod Hospital on Sunday, November 26rth, surrounded by her Sisters. After a valiant fight with multiple serious health issues over the past four years, she quietly slipped home to Jesus.

She was born, Janet Dana Reid to Lois and William Reid of Cambridge, MA on December 10th, 1948. She graduated from Pittsfield, MA High School in 1966, Lesley College with a Bachelor’s degree in education in 1970 And UMass Amherst with a Masters of Arts in secondary education and English 1971.

Teaching was her passion and her teaching career first lewd her to the Community of Jesus, when she was hired in 1972 to teach at Nauset Middle School, where she worked for 42 years until her retirement in 2012. She taught English, Social Studies and History to hundreds of Nauset Middle School students, and she was known for making her classes lively, fun and challenging. She loved her students, and they loved her, as evidenced by the many glowing tributes they wrote to her, all of which she saved. Today, over ten years after she retired, Sister Abigail’s former students often approach the Sisters, asking if we know “Miss Reid”, and telling us that she was their favorite teacher. Even one of the EMT’s who transported her on her final trip to the hospital recognized her as former beloved teacher.

In the midst of her teaching career, Abigail still known as Dana, felt calling from God to join the Sisterhood of The Community of Jesus. She became a novice in 1980 and made her Simple Profession in 1982, taking the monastic name of Abigail. In 1985, she made her Solemn Profession.

Besides teaching, Abigail loved animals, nature and the outdoors. Until her health began to fail, she hiked, swam, biked and enjoyed camping. She was an avid sewer, quilter and weaver and made beautiful candles for the Community’s church and gift shop. The day before she died, she was packaging us Christmas candles and exclaimed, “I’m having a ball!” We will miss her laughter, enthusiasm, sense of humor and fun-loving spirit, but we know she is praying for us now “from the other side.”

Sister Abigail is survived by her brothers, Duncan and his wife, Fran, of Somers, CT, and David and his wife, Brenda, of Henniker, NH, and by three nephews and cousins, including Brad Glass of Mashpee, MA.