Sr. Margaret Mary Wilson
February 2, 1928 - January 25, 2018
Obituary
Sister Margaret Mary Wilson, age 89, a Sister of Providence for 59 years, died January 25, 2018, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, WA. Vigil Service: Sunday, February 4, 2018, at 6:30 PM, and Funeral Mass: Monday, February 5, 2018, at 11:00 AM, both at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, WA, after Mass and reception. Bonney Watson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Mary Wilson was born February 2, 1928 to James and Nellie (Corby) Wilson, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the third of four children. In 1944 Sister Margaret Mary graduated from St. Martin Commercial High School, Chicago, Illinois. She attended the National Institute of Practical Nursing in Chicago, IL, where she received her Licensed Practical Nursing certificate. She was then employed at Lewis Memorial Hospital where some Sisters of Providence were nurses. She grew to love the sisters who “practiced what they preached.”
Margaret Mary entered the Sisters of Providence in July 1958 at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, Washington. In July 1959 she became a novice. In July 1960 she professed first vows and received the name Sister Jean Ellen; then in August 1965 she professed final vows.
In 1967 Sister Margaret Mary earned a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree from Seattle University in Seattle, WA. From 1967- 1977, Sr. Margaret Mary was engaged in nursing and a short time in pastoral care, at Providence Hospital in Seattle and St. Vincent Hospital in Portland. She took a sabbatical year in the CREDO Program at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. After that she became the executive receptionist for Sisters of Providence Provincial Administration and Providence Health System in the corporate headquarters in downtown Seattle.
In 1992 Sr. Margaret Mary became the sacristan for St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, where she served in other roles over the years, such as staff member and councilor until 2010.
In 2011, Sr. Margaret Mary retired. Her favorite pastimes were cooking, enjoying music, the outdoors and spending cherished time with friends and her sisters in community.
Sr. Margaret Mary is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers and survived by nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016. To view Sr. Margaret Mary’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com
I loved Sr. Margaret Mary’s welcoming friendliness and smile. Miss you!