Sister Mary Ellen King, SSA: 1931 – 2023
Volume 38 Issue 4, 5 & 6 | Posted: July 11, 2023
Born May 1, 1931 in Arnaud MB, died at Mount St. Mary Hospital, Victoria, BC on May 10, 2023. Sister Mary Ellen was the sixth of ten children of Joseph and Josephine (Markenski) King. After graduating from St. Mary’s Academy, Winnipeg, Mary Ellen entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Ann in 1949. She earned a BA from Seattle University in 1965 and a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from Fordham University in New York in 1970.
After several years teaching, Mary Ellen was Principal of St. Ann’s Academy in Victoria from 1967 – 1972. She then served in a variety of leadership roles: Co-ordinator of the Counseling Center, Camosun College, Administrator of Queenswood Retreat Centre, Victoria and Province Leader of the Sisters of Saint Ann, based in Victoria, BC (1992-1998). From 1998 to 2008, Mary Ellen served as Congregational Leader in Lachine, QC.
Throughout her life, Mary Ellen served on a variety of civic and religious committees and boards and had the privilege of visiting the Sisters of Saint Ann in every country in which they ministered: Canada, Alaska, Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Chile and the Cameroon. In 2002, Sister Mary Ellen was awarded the Commemorative Medal for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee and received an Honorary Degree from Anna Maria College, Paxton, MA in 2006.
Sister Mary Ellen is survived by members of her Religious Community, her sisters Patricia and Bernadette, her brother Bill and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Josephine King, her brother John, and her sisters Rita, Eunice, Florence, Jean, and Noreen. The Sisters of Saint Ann greatly appreciate the excellent care provided by the staffs at The Cridge, Mount St. Mary Hospital and the Island Health and Royal Jubilee Hospital palliative care units.