Donnelly, Justina

• Sister Justina Donnelly, CSJ
• Sister Mary Loretto Donnelly, CSJ
• Donnelly, Mary Loretto
• Donnelly, Mamie

Born in Alliston, Ontario, 1894-08-26. Entered 1917-07-05, received the habit 1918-01-05 (first vows 1920-01-05, final vows 1923-01-05). Died 1981-07-19 in Toronto, Ontario and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill, Ontario.

Mamie was one of six children born to Catherine Donnelly and Hugh Donnelly. Although they had the same surname, Hugh and Catherine came from two unrelated families from Ireland who settled in the Adjala area. Their eldest daughter, Catherine, was the co-founder of the Sisters of Service. A third daughter, Elizabeth Teresa (Tess) Gifford, was born between Catherine and Mamie. Three other children died at a young age: Mary Gertrude, Brigid and Thomas. She died peacefully in the infirmary on July 19, 1981 in her eighty-seventh year, the sixty-fifth of her religious life. Her sister Tess predeceased her in 1968 but her older sister, Sister Catherine, SOS, was present at her funeral and lived until 1983.

Mamie attended the country school at Tossorontio, Simcoe County and for a short time after her mother’s death in 1905, the school in Apto where her sister Catherine was the teacher. She went to the Alliston High School and St. Joseph’s Academy in Toronto as a resident student. She attended the Toronto Normal School in 1912-1913 and taught in rural public schools in Nottawasaga, Erin, and Glenelg in Grey County, as well as two years at St. Peter’s in Toronto before entering the Sisters of St. Joseph in the summer of 1917.

As a postulant and following completion of her canonical year, Sister Justina taught in Toronto schools. After making first profession in January 1920 she spent thirty-seven years in classrooms in St. Catharines, Thorold, Winnipeg, and Toronto until 1958. Following retirement from teaching, Sister Justina assisted in the boarding school on Wellesley Street and later at St. Joseph’s High School Convent, Islington. Her duties were varied, ranging from supervisor of study to sewing and receptionist. In 1967 she became a resident in the infirmary where her life was devoted to prayer and collecting stamps for the missions.

Created by F Rousselle June 25, 2025.
Revised by F Rousselle June 27, 2025.

Biographical sketch adapted from the CSJ Toronto Archives