Obituary of Sister Florence Morrison

Morrison: Sister Florence, formerly Sister Joseph Andrew, 94, a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, died at Bethany, the motherhouse, on Thursday, December 12, 2013. She was in the 73rd year of religious life. Born in Cleveland, Nova Scotia, Sister Florence was the eighth in a family of eleven children, the daughter of the late Angus and Margaret (Campbell) Morrison. Sister Florence entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha in 1939, and made her perpetual commitment in 1944. That same year she graduated with her RN from St. Martha’s Hospital School of Nursing, and remained on staff there until 1953. During those years and for several years following, Sister Florence furthered her education in the health care field. She earned certification in Nursing Unit Administration, Hospital Organization and Management, and Nursing Service Administration. Sister Florence was certified as a member of the American College of Hospital Administrators and of the Canadian College of Health Service. After her retirement from full time service in the health care field, Sister Florence studied Pastoral Care receiving her diploma from Carlton University, Ottawa, ON. During her ministry in health care, Sister Florence served in Banff, AB, and Melville, SK, as Director of Nursing Services and as Administrator at St. Peter’s Hospital, Melville, and the R.K. MacDonald Guest House. Later she volunteered as Pastoral Care worker in Banff and Calgary, AB, and served as Health Nurse at Bethany. Because of failing health, Sister Florence returned to Bethany in 1999. She entered Bethany’s Extended Care Unit in 2004. Sister Florence’s life was devoted to the ministry of health care; of service in official and volunteer sectors; of moving gracefully from one form of health service to another, and of being grounded in community as she did so. Besides her parents, Sister Florence was predeceased by brothers: Douglas, Ernest, Howard Andrew, Joseph, Michael and Peter; by sisters, Jessie Corneliussen and Alice Tait. She is survived by two brothers, Francis and James. The remains will be resting at Bethany, beginning Sunday, December 15 at 1:15 p.m. A Celebration of Vigil will be held on the same evening at 7:30. Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, December 16, at 2:00 p.m. in the Bethany Chapel.