The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-17
DEATHS ANGEL ENDS
LIFE Of TRUE SERVICE
Sister Mary Dies at St. Igna-
tius-One of the First
Sisters in State.
LAST OF QUARTET
Three Who Came With Her
Are Dead Long Since
Came Here in 1916.

st. lgnatius. April 16--(Special.) -
The last words of tho service said by
the priest at the funeral service of
Sister Mary of the Infant Jesus at St.
to the last chapter in the life of one
of Montana's true noblewomcn. She
was one OF the first four Sisters of
the Catholic church to come to Mon
tana, the first woman to take up the
work Of mercy on the trail marked
out by Father DeSmet. After SO years
OF faithful service in the Indian mis-
sion at st. lgnatius. Sister Mary, the
last of the quartet, quietly passed
away Wednesday evening on the scene
of her life's activities.
The funeral was held Saturday
morning and was attended by prac-
ideally the entire population. both In
dams and whites, in that part of the
country. Father \. $. Trevelli of the
church Of st. Francis Navier and
seven of the Sisters from the Sacred
Heart academy and st. Patrick's hos
pltal of Missoula, attended the funeral
Her History.
Sister Mary came to Montana in
1876 from the mother house of the
sisters OF Providence at Montreal
with three others. Sister Paul Mkt,
Sister Mary Edward and Sister Remi.
They left Montreal June l and went by
way OF New York and Panama to San
Francisco. They later went to VAN
couver, Washington, then to Oregon,
arriving there September II. There
they met Father J. Giorda and Father
q. Gazzoli. Father Giorda is credited
with the actual foundation of the mis-
sion.
The remainder of the journey, from
Vancouver to st. Ignitius was made on
horseback, the trip lasting a month.
During the trip Sister Mkt. the less
capable of the four physically, be-
came so weak as to cause apprchcn-
sion among her companions but as
time went on she recovered and when
the journey was over they were all
A Severe Test.
The rigors of the ride across the
mountains were slight compared to the
work that now confronted the Sisters.
The school building was still under
going the process Of construction. The
women went to work with a win and
soon turned the house or shanty to
which they were assigned into the
first home" in that section of the
country. They were forced to begin at
the bottom in the education of the In
dian children but. together with Father
Giorda and Father Gazzoli. they soon
had the school in a Furnishing con-
dtion.
The Sisters of Providence were later
followed by the UrsuIinc Sisters who
are now carrying on the work in Mis-
Soula.
Sister Mary the Last.
Sister Mary was 81 years az age at
the time OF her death. About 20 years
ago she came to Missoula to live for
two years. but was unable to resist the
call for her work and her home at
St. Ignatius. The other members of the
original band have left her one by
one. Sister Mary Edward was recalled
to the mother house at Montreal and
1t is understood has since gone to her
reward. Sister Paul Mkt died at tn,
Mission December 10. 1880. Sister
Rcmi suffered from i'll health during
the greater part of her life in Montana
She was removed to Montreal where
she died April IS. 1885. Sister Mary
was the last of the brave band 20 seek
her cll-carned reward.