Sr. Marcella HaagMay 30, 1915 - May 25, 2011God called Sr. Marcella to her eternal home on May 25, 2011 at the age of 95. Matilda (Sr. Marcella) was born in a little sod house near Macklin, SK into a happy family of Michael and Katherine (Stang) Haag. Her primary education was a Bride School near her home. St. Marcella joined the Sisters of St. Elizabeth in 1930 having become acquainted with the Sisters when her older sister, Mary (Sr. Perpetua), entered the convent. Like many of her companions in the Community, Sr. Marcella attended Humboldt High School and received her diploma during the first few years before entering into the Novitiate in 1933. On Oct. 20, 1934 she pronounced her religious vows and in 1937 made perpetual vows. She celebrated her 75th anniversary of religious profession in 2009. In 1940 Sr. Marcella graduated as a registered nurse from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing and received a certificate as an x-ray technician in 1947. She spent the next 25 years serving as a nurse and in the operating, lab and x-ray departments in Humboldt and Macklin Hospitals and then obtained her B.SC in Nursing from the University of Alberta. Her service also included many years as administrator of St. Joseph Hospital in Macklin and Holy Infant Hospital in Hoven, S.D. The highlight of Sr. Marcella's life was her time in Brazil - first from 1967-1969 in Maceio Alagoas and then from 1976-1991 in Salvador, Bahia. She wrote often of her love for the people and even years later when she could not remember much else, her face brightened at the mention of Brazil or if she saw another of the missionaries that served with her. Since her return to Canada in January 1991, Sr. Marcella has resided at the Motherhouse and was cared for in her last years in the Sisters' Infirmary. Sr. Marcella was predeceased by her parents Michael and Katherine Haag; her sisters Emilia, Rose, Sr. Perpetua, Bridget and Victoria who died in infancy; her brothers Leopold, Albinus, Alphonse and Albert who all died in infancy; her sister-in-law Josephine; her brothers-in-law Mike Stang, Charlie Pettinger, Joe Brost and Tony Steffen. She is lovingly remembered by her Sisters in Community, her sister Josephine Steffen of Saskatoon; her brother Alex of St. Paul Minn. and numerous nieces and nephews. A Wake Service for Sr. Marcella was held on Friday, May 27, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Convent Humboldt. The Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. from St. Augustine R.C. Church Humboldt concelebrated by, Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB, Fr. Emile April, Fr. Daniel Muyers OSB and Fr. Bernard Stauber OSB. An honor guard was formed by the former graduates of the St. Elizabeth's Nursing Class. Interment will followed in the Sisters of St. Elizabeth Cemetery. Memorial donations in Sr. Marcella's memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Elizabeth Health Care Fund. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home, Humboldt, SK.
