SISTER MAGDALEN BARTON

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SISTER MAGDALEN BARTON, S.O.S. Sister Magdalen Barton, Sister of Service, died peacefully at Scarborough Retirement Centre on April 11, 2003 in the 76th year of her religious life. Born in Cheadle, Cheshire, England on November 3, 1906, she was one of three children born to George Barton and Margaret McGlone. She was predeceased by her siblings, Eunice and Reginald. Sister Barton immigrated to Canada with her mother in June, 1920 and took up residence in Toronto, ON. She entered the Sisters of Service on April 21, 1927 and spent her entire career in the field of education. She began her teaching career in Camp Morton, MB in 1930 and retired in Regina, SK in 1973. During those 43 years she taught and administered public schools in all three prairie provinces at the elementary and secondary levels. She received her B.A./BEd Degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and a Masters in Religious Studies from St. Pauls University, Ottawa, ON. In 1934, she founded the first Sisters of Service Correspondence School of Religion in Regina, and on her retirement from teaching in 1973 was asked to fulfil the same mission in the Diocese of Grand Falls, NF at Clarenville. In 1987, she was commissioned to write the history of the Sisters of Service Correspondence Schools of Religion in Canada and the United States. She is remembered by generations of students throughout Western Canada, many with professional degrees, because of her support and mentoring. In her retirement years, Sister Bartons passion and joy was tutoring new Canadians in English and Citizenship and, as she prepared them for their High School Equivalency Exams, they imbibed her ardent love for Canada. She is survived by several cousins in England, Toronto and Oyama, BC; her loving community; and numerous friends throughout Canada. Visitation will be Sunday, April 13 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home, 467 Sherbourne St., Toronto, ON. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated Monday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m. by Rev. Joseph Schuck S.J. at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 11 Earl St., Toronto. Interment at Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home (416) 924-1408.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 12, 2003