File 8 - Circular Letters – Sister General Mary Reansbury

Born 15 August 1913 in Brantford, Ontario, daughter of Hugh Reansbury and Winnifred Fletcher; entered 21 January 1945; first vows 15 August 1947; final vows 15 August 1952; died 15 April 2003.

One of eight children, Mary was the daughter of an English-born woodworker. She studied at the local Brantford schools of St. Basil’s separate school and Brantford Collegiate Institute. Upon leaving school, Mary worked as an office clerk in the southwestern town. Her interest in the Sisters of Service began at a lecture by two sisters in the parish hall, and increased at a Redemptorist retreat in nearby Hamilton. She contacted the Motherhouse a month later. Entering in January 1945 at the age of 32, she professed first vows on August 15, 1947 and final vows on August 15, 1952.

Remaining in Toronto for the early postings, she assisted at the Motherhouse (1946-1947) and the adjacent women’s residence Toronto (1947-1949) before moving to the Ottawa women's residence (1949-1950) for further studies. Leaving Ontario for her longest missionary posting (1950-1966), she was assigned the business office of to St. John’s Hospital, Edson, Alberta. Named superior (1957-1966), Sister Reansbury rose to position of the hospital’s administrator, upgrading her skills by completing several hospital management courses as well as one in automobile driving. In 1964, she replaced an ailing Sister Mary Quinn on the General Council At the next chapter, held in 1966, she was elected as Sister General.

After leaving office, she was appointed bursar (1970-1972) and returned to Edson (1972-1975) as superior. Elected to the General Council in the 1974 Chapter, Sister Reansbury was appointed superior of the Motherhouse (1975-1976) and later superior of newly-established residence for the retired sisters at Niagara Retirement Manor in St. Catharines, Ontario (1976-1978). Returning to the Motherhouse in 1978, she received a second appointment as bursar (1979-1987) and property manager (1981-1982) of a community house at nearby 648 Broadview Avenue.

Upon the 1989 opening of the new residence for retired sisters at Scarborough Court in Toronto’s east end, she joined the sisters although she served as acting director from 1997 until 2000 when she moved to long-care facility of Providence Centre in July, 2000. At the age of 89, Sister Reansbury died of a heart attack at Providence Centre on April 15, 2003 during Holy Week. Celebrated on Holy Thursday by Father David Louch, C.Ss.R., her funeral liturgy was held in Rosar-Morrison funeral home in Toronto. Her body was buried in the community plot in Mount Hope cemetery, Toronto.