Sr. Cecelia McGrath

SR. CECELIA McGRATH, SP
Sister of Providence Sr. Cecelia McGrath, formerly known as Sr. Mary Jacinta, died on January 23, 2017
in the 66th year of her religious life. Sister Cecelia was born in 1933 in Holyoke, the seventh of nine
children of Joseph and Emaline (Barbeau) McGrath. After graduating Ascension High School, Worcester,
MA, she entered the Sisters of Providence in 1951, following her older sister, Sr. Maria Assumpta McGrath,
SP, into the Congregation. Sister Cecelia ministered in numerous capacities over the years. She first served in the business office at
Providence Hospital, then as a cottage mother and teacher at Our Lady of Providence Children’s Center
(Brightside). She played a variety of roles at the Providence Mother House, and later became a nurse’s
aide at Mercy Hospital. In 1972, Sister Cecelia earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from Springfield Technical
Community College, after which she served as staff nurse at Mercy Hospital for the next 10 years. She
continued her education earning credits at Holyoke Community College and Westfield State College. She
pursued education in the art of stained glass and other crafts and produced beautiful stained glass art
pieces.Her ministry later included working at the Sisters of Providence Infirmary and, from 1984 to 1986, as
Activities Director at Mount Saint Vincent Nursing Home. Subsequently, Sister’s service included serving
as a dental assistant in Longmeadow, as a home health aide with Community Home Makers in Holyoke,
and as assistant to the Sisters of Providence Healthcare Coordinator. Sr. Cecelia also was known for her
singing and guitar playing through years.Sister retired in early 2000s and lived at Providence Place in Holyoke until she moved to Mary’s Meadow in
2014. She is survived by her Sisters in Community, and her sister, Sr. Maria Assumpta McGrath, SP and her nephew Frank Branchesi, his wife Diane and family. The Wake will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 from 3:30 pm - 7:00 pm at Providence Place, 5 Gamelin Street, Holyoke, MA with a Wake Service at 6:15 pm. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will becelebrated on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 10 a.m. in the Providence Place Chapel. The Dillon and Edward F. Day Funeral Home, 124 Chestnut Street, Holyoke, MA has been entrusted with the arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Providence, 5 Gamelin St., Holyoke, MA
01040.
 

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