BUCKLEY, Sister Alice
Sister Alice Buckley, formerly Sister Leo Charles, 93, a Sister of St. Martha of Antigonish, died at Bethany, the Motherhouse on February 11, 2018, in the 61st year of her religious life.
Born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, she was one of five children of the late Ignatius Walter and Margaret (O’Connell) Buckley. Prior to entering the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, Sister Alice graduated from Mt. St. Bernard College in Antigonish with her Secretarial Arts Diploma in 1942. After working for a few years, she entered St. Martha’s Hospital’s School of Nursing and graduated with her R.N. in 1948. She did one year post-graduate work at Dalhousie University in teaching and supervision in Schools of Nursing. Sister taught at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Glace Bay and worked as floor supervisor at St. Rita Hospital in Sydney.
On February 15, 1955 Sister Alice entered the Congregation. She pronounced her first vows on February 15, 1957 and her perpetual vows on August 15, 1961. Besides Bethany, Sister Alice served at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital and St. Martha’s Convent on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University, all in Antigonish; and at the former Holy Heart Seminary in Halifax. For many years, Sister Alice suffered personally with illness. She also ministered in the spiritual life of many of the sick and dying in hospitals of the Congregation, as well as to her Religious Sisters. She reached out to those who were bed-ridden and prayed for all who ministered to her, and carried their intentions in her heart.
Sister Alice is the last surviving member of her immediate family. Besides her parents, Sister was predeceased by two sisters, Mary and Eileen MacDonald, and by two brothers, Charles and Dr. Bernard.
She is survived by several devoted nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews.
The remains will be resting at Bethany, beginning Tuesday, February 13, at 1:15. A Celebration of Vigil will be held that same evening at 7:30. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, February 14, at 2 p.m. in the former Bethany Chapel.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of C. L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish.
Online condolences: www. clcurry.com.