Obituary of Anne Morton

MORTON: Sister Anne Morton, RNDM (Sr. M. St. Thaddeus), former resident of Fairview Home, Brandon, died peacefully on April 19, 2014. Anne was preceded in death by her parents, William Lyall Morton and Rose Melanie Breland, and by her siblings, Norah Hardy, Eileen Ethier, John Morton and Henry Morton. Anne is survived by her sister Marguerite Verry of Mississauga, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Anne was born on April 24, 1921 in Lauder, MB, the second youngest of six children. Anne's early education took place in Lauder, Dunrea, and Grande-Clairière, and then she went to St. Michael's Academy in Brandon to complete high school. St. Michael's was operated by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM), and having met the Sisters, and been inspired by them, Anne felt drawn to become one of them. She entered the Sisters' novitiate at Sacred Heart College in Regina, SK, making her first vows in 1942 and her final vows in 1948. After first vows, Anne was sent to teach in Fort Frances, ON, and thus commenced her twenty five years of educating children. Apart from her first years in Fort Frances, Anne's subsequent teaching was in Manitoba - in Brandon, St. Eustache, Elie, Ste. Rose du Lac, and St. Joseph. Anne was a much loved teacher. Her kindness and respect towards the children in her care was remarkable, and to this day, many of her former students from various parts of Canada contact the RNDMs to have word of Sr. Anne. Their memories are of how caring Anne was, how she "saw" them, and listened to them. As effective as she was as an educator, Anne also felt drawn to nursing. Thus, in 1972, she went to the Quo Vadis School of Nursing in Toronto, a program designed for mature students. Anne invested herself wholly in her studies, and on acquiring the new skills necessary for her to care for the sick and infirm. On completion of her RN, she nursed at St. Joseph's hospital in Toronto, the Assiniboine Centre in Brandon, and then took charge of the care for infirm RNDM Sisters at St. Michael's Academy. Anne had a keen sensitivity for those who struggle in life. She had a deep faith, born out of her own life struggles and joys, and she generously shared that faith with others. Her relationship with God was central to her being. The Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions and Sr. Anne's family are grateful to the staff at Fairview Home for their competence and care for Anne in the three years she was a resident with them. Wake/Prayers (a time to pray and share memories of Sr. Anne) will be held from 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at St. Augustine of Canterbury church, 327 - 4th Street, Brandon. The Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 2:00 pm, with Reverend Kevin Smith as main celebrant. Interment will be at the Brandon Cemetery on 18th Street South. In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to make a donation to the Mission Fund of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, 310 Provencher Blvd., Winnipeg, MB, R2H 0G7.