KELLY, Sister Mary Mona, OLM - (May 11, 1930 – January 11, 2021) - Sr. Mona Kelly died on January 11, 2021 at Providence Healthcare after a lengthy illness.
Predeceased by her parents Bernard and Evelyn (Murphy) and brother Doug, Mona is loved and greatly missed by sister Evelyn O’Neil (the late Patrick), brothers Bernard (the late Betty) and James (Gloria), her sister-in-law Audrey, nieces and nephews and her sisters in the Congregation of Our Lady’s Missionaries.
Mona was born in Saint John, New Brunswick where she attended school. She entered Our Lady’s Missionaries in 1951 and studied nursing at St. Joseph School of Nursing, Hotel Dieu Hospital Cornwall, Ontario.
Mona’s first mission outside Canada was Nigeria where she worked at healthcare in clinics and small hospitals. She also served as a nurse in Northeast Brazil and for short periods of time in Biafra, Mozambique, Northern Canada and St. Joseph’s and St Michael’s Hospitals in Toronto.
Mona served as the congregational leader of Our Lady’s Missionaries from 1983 to 1987. She then returned to mission in Northeast Brazil where she lived until her return to Canada in 2010.
During her second time in Brazil Mona dedicated herself to two ministries dear to her heart. She worked with economically poor families who with her guidance and support created a housing development that included a community centre to provide for skills training and community gatherings. Mona’s dedication to this project was one of the main causes for awarding her the Order of Canada, which she received in 2000.
Her other main ministry was with street children and youth in the city of Fortaleza. All who knew Mona were aware of her concern for children and youth. After her return to Canada Mona directed some of that concern to participation in the Becoming Neighbours program that accompanies refugee families.
She loved her family and her community and was faithful to the vision of OLM and its founder Father Dan Macdonald, on whose anniversary she died.
Mona is remembered as a courageous woman of strong faith who had a heart for those most in need and especially for the children, and would do whatever she could to help people to realize their potential.
There are people in several countries who join Our Lady’s Missionaries in remembering Mona with affection and gratitude.
A celebration of Mona’s life will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted with Rosar-Morrison funeral home, Toronto.
{fastsocialshare