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June 19, 2017

OBITUARY: Sister Margaret Cantwell, SSA

REGIONAL

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – Sister Margaret Cantwell (formerly Sister Kathleen Mary), 93, a Sister of St. Anne, died June 16, in Marie Esther Health Center in Marlborough.

Born in Ware, MA, she was the eldest of six children born to Thomas and Mary Catherine (Guiman) Cantwell. She graduated from the former St. Anne Academy, earned a bachelor of arts  degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., and a master of arts degree from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

She joined the Sisters of St. Anne in Lachine, Canada in 1941 and pronounced vows in 1943. From 1944-2004, she taught and served as pastoral minister, archivist, and catechist in schools and community projects sponsored by the Sisters in Alaska in Holy Cross, Nulato,  Juneau, Glenallen, and Anchorage; and in British Columbia, in Vancouver, Kamloops, Lillooett, Tofino, Langford and Victoria.

An artist, writer and poet, she authored North to Share: The Sisters of Saint Ann in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. She also has written numerous inspirational articles about Blessed Marie Anne Blondin, foundress of the Sisters of St. Anne.
 
She later offered museum tours at St Anne Convent, in Lachine, Quebec, Canada, and provided an outreach to English-speaking visitors at the SSA Historic Center and promoted devotion to Blessed Marie Anne Blondin. In more recent years, she has resided at St. Anne Convent in Marlborough, where she has continued to write, speak and promote interest in all aspects of the life of the congregation’s foundress.

She was predeceased by a sister and two brothers. She leaves two sisters, Catherine Noonan and her husband, John, and Jeannette Daly and her husband, Joseph; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

The wake will be Tuesday, June 20 from 9-10:15 a.m. at St. Anne Convent, 720 Boston Post Road East, and will be followed by the funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. in the convent chapel. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Marlborough.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to the Sisters of St. Anne Retirement Fund, 720 Boston Post Road East, Marlborough, MA 01752, or to a charity of one’s choice.

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