Sr. Margie McGrath, nds

The Livestream Link will be available HERE on the day of the service and will go live approximately 5 minutes before the event.

The family of Sr. Margie McGrath and the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion sadly announce the death of Margie on September 7th, 2026. 

Margie was born to Edna (Charters) and Michael Jeremiah (Jerry) McGrath on October 27th, 1937. She is survived by her Congregation, the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, her family: sisters, Janet (Larry) Heilman and Linda (Ron) Clipperton, her nieces and nephews: Tamara (Lawrence) Easton, Theresa (Jim) George, James (Donna) McGrath, Sarah McGrath, Shantel (Ken) Howling, Reece (Maria) Varty, and Carmen (Brad) Selby. Margie was predeceased by her parents, her younger brother Pat at 29 years of age, her sister-in-law, Delores McGrath, and brother-in-law Ron Clipperton.

Margie lived a long and full life. Her enthusiasm was contagious. When she walked into a room, her smile lit up the space. Just to mention a few highlights:

Margie entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Sion in Saskatoon on August 2nd, 1955. She celebrated her perpetual vows on September 8th, 1963.

She was an avid student and a life long learner. She attended universities in western and central Canada, eastern United States, Israel, and Rome.

As a young religious, Margie studied and taught music. Although she was a small person, she had a large and beautiful singing voice. She was also an elementary school teacher in Saskatoon and an high school teacher at Sion Academy before embarking on Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Israel, in 1967-69. Upon returning to Canada, she became a part of the Centre Mi-Ca-El community in Montreal and worked at the Center for Ecumenism in the Montreal Diocese.

Margie spent twenty-eight years living in Rome, and working at SIDIC, the International Service for Jewish-Christian Documentation, which was established by the Congregation of Sion, following the Second Vatican Council. Margie's specialization was the tour of the Roman Ghetto. The Jewish Ghetto had been established in 1555 by Pope Paul IV. Jews were forced to live in the Ghetto, until the Second Vatican Council's "Nostra Aetate", which radically revised the position of the Roman Catholic Church with regards to its stance towards the Jewish people, a stance of ignorance, persecution, misinterpretation of the Scriptures, and conversion began to become one of knowledge, understanding, respect, conversation, and reconciliation. Margie was an excellent teacher of history, making what happened come to life and helping to open people's minds and hearts.

Her final retirement home in Saskatoon was St. Joseph's Home. We are extremely grateful for the wonderful, compassionate care she received from the Sisters of St. Joseph and their staff. Margie also received assistance from Kathy Daniels and OverCHealth who helped her navigate through the health care system. Our profound thank you to you, Kathy, and your staff. 

Margie's funeral will take place at St. Patrick's on Thursday, September 24th, 1:30 pm with Fr. David Tumback officiating. Our gratitude to Fr. David and St. Patrick's and the Saskatoon Funeral Home and funeral director, Gerry Mitchell, for assisting us with this last rite of passage. Tim Yaworski is live streaming the funeral so that the community members, family, friends and associates may view the funeral or play the recorded version on the Saskatoon Funeral Home website. Thank you Tim.

If you wish to do so, memorial donations, in Margie's name, may be forwarded to one of Margie's favourite charities: Covenant House, 1280 Seymour St., Vancouver, BC. V6B 3N9