MacLellan, Rita Cecilia

• Sister Rita MacLellan, SOS

Born 3 November 1913 in Indian River, PEI, daughter of John MacLellan and Cecilia Gillis; entered 2 August 1935; first vows 2 February 1938; final vows 15 August 1943; died 12 May 1997.

One of eight children, Rita grew up in the rural community of Indian River, where she finished Grade 10. In Charlottetown, she attended Prince of Wales College, completing Grade 11 and obtaining a teaching licence. Back home, she worked as a store clerk and credited an advertisement about the Sisters of Service in a Catholic newspaper that attracted her to the community. Sister MacLellan made first vows on February 2, 1938 and final vows on August 15, 1945.

Following first vows, Sister MacLellan remained in Toronto to earn Ontario high school credits at St. Joseph's College School in downtown Toronto and an Ontario teaching certificate from the Toronto Normal School in 1942. From the Motherhouse, Sister MacLellan commuted daily (1942-1945) to teach in Wexford in Scarborough Township, east of Toronto. Posted to Camp Morton, Manitoba, she taught at the Bismark school in nearby Berlo (1945-1951) and organized the Berlo Boosters’ Boys Poultry Club with the assistance of the federal agriculture representative. During the summers, she enrolled in courses in Toronto (1944 and 1945) and Winnipeg (1949).

In the spring of 1951 at the request of Bishop Philip Pocock of Saskatoon, Sister MacLellan was appointed to conduct a survey of the religious education needs of the Saskatoon diocese. For several months in 1951, she studied the Church’s official program of religion education, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), at Franciscan Sisters of Baker, Oregon. Placed in charge of the diocesan CCD office, Sister MacLellan arranged classes for children attending public schools, trained and assisted lay catechists and provided CCD material to parishes throughout the Saskatoon diocese. From August 1954 until the end of the year, she also assisted in Fargo, Winnipeg and Regina.

Returning to teaching, she moved to Peace River, Alberta (1954-1959) to teach in Immaculate Conception school and later in the Indian Day school (1959-1960) on Christian Island, Ontario. In a reappointment to Camp Morton (1960-1963), she combined teaching at King Edward School No.1 with the duties of the mission's superior. Similarly at Peace River (1963-1966), she balanced the duo tasks of teaching and the duties of superior. Two final teaching positions followed at Loyola School in Sinnett, Saskatchewan (1966-1969) and Rosary School in Manning, Alberta (1969-1980) until she reached the mandatory retirement age. In Clarenville, Newfoundland, Sister MacLellan held the position as pastoral assistant in Our Lady of Fatima parish (1980-1990), joining the sisters at that catechetical mission. In this ministry, she provided religious education, pastoral care, chaplain services to the community’s correctional institution and senior citizens home as well as being a member of the ecumenical pastoral team.

Upon leaving Clarenville, she was appointed to Scarborough Court, Toronto (1990-1992) as acting superior and later superior of the retired sisters. At the age of 75 years, Sister MacLellan returned to the West, serving as a parish volunteer at Sacred Heart Church (1992-1997) in Edson. Declining health had prompted her to return to Scarborough Court from Edson. Accompanied by Sister Joan Schafhauser, she collapsed in the Edmonton airport just prior to boarding a flight to Toronto. Rushed to nearby Leduc Hospital, she died on May 12, 1997 of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 83. The wake service was held at Rosar-Morrison funeral home in Toronto. A Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated at Holy Name church by Fr. Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R. and assisted by Fr. Roger Keelor, pastor of Sacred Heart church in Edson. The chair of the parish council also attended the funeral, representing the community of Edson. Burial followed in the community's plot at Mount Hope cemetery, Toronto.

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

Biographical sketch adapted for brevity from complete biography written by SOS congregational archivist MC Havey.