The lives and ministries of Sisters Maurice and Marie Veronica Norton

Kevin Ridge had contacted our department several months ago inquiring about several sisters and we believed it would be a great thing to write about them in Throwback Thursday blogs.

Well, Mr. Ridge, we finally got around to your final request as we have reached Sisters Maurice and Marie Veronica Norton, both from the eastern portion of the United States and both of whom dealt with tragedy.

Sister Maurice was born Jessie Norton on Jan. 27, 1895, in Boston, to John and Mabel Cameron Norton. She entered the Congregation on June 30, 1916.

According to our Archives Department, Sister Maurice taught “commercial subjects in high schools,” based in Illinois, Indiana and Massachusetts.

She was forced to retire from teaching in 1959 due to extreme high blood pressure issues and returned to the Motherhouse, entering the ministry of prayer.

Sister Maurice died on Jan. 16, 1972.

Her sister, Anne Marie Norton, was born on March 25, 1899, in Boston. She entered the Congregation on June 30, 1916.

According to her biography information, she taught at schools in Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts and Maryland.

“She dearly loved ‘her children,’ and they loved her,” the information stated.

More information stated that “as a young sister, she developed an infection on her face, which led to painful treatments. These were endured with great patience in her gentle, gracious manner.”

In addition, commentary for Sister Marie Veronica stated “details of sister’s life seem inconsequential when we consider that she, perhaps better than most people of our acquaintance, really understood that what matters is not WHAT one does in life, but HOW we live.”

Sister Marie Veronica came back to the Motherhouse in 1970, entering the ministry of prayer. She died on Nov. 5, 1978.