(12/29/14) NELSON, Sister Ann, RSM, 83, (formerly Sister Mary Harold), died on December 28, 2014 at Newport Hospital. Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Harold and Catherine (Higgins) Nelson, and the sister of the late Harold J. (Chuck) Nelson.
In 1949, Sister Ann entered the Sisters of Mercy and made perpetual vows in 1955. Sister Ann taught at St. Charles School, Woonsocket; St. Mary Academy-Bay View; St. Xavier Academy in Providence, and Salve Regina University where she was Professor of History until her retirement.
Sister Ann received her B.E. from Catholic Teacher’s College, her M.A. from Niagara University, and her PhD from Fordham University. Sister was a visiting professor and scholar of History and Politics at Ibadan University, Nigeria, and also at The National University, Canberra, Australia. She belonged to multiple organizations and received several awards, including the Regina Medal from Salve Regina University.
For fifty years, Sister Ann Nelson was devoted to the mission of teaching, encouraging excellence in academics and commitment to public service. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Russia, Australia and the Middle East. She had a hand in formulating the semester abroad program at Salve and encouraged students to participate because, “It is almost impossible to be prejudiced when you know and understand people and their problems.”
Sister Ann was a foremost authority on the history of the City of Newport. She was passionate about Newport architecture, preservation and early settlers. In 1976, she served on the Rhode Island Bicentennial Commission planning a day to reflect on women’s contributions to RI history. She served on the Board of Directors for the RI Committee for Celebration at Newport (RICAN). Governor J. Joseph Garrahy appointed her along with 14 other women to become one of the seventy-seven Commissioners of the RI Heritage Commission (1977), which was in the early stages of securing a site and planning for the RI Heritage Museum.
Sister Ann is survived by three nephews, Michael Nelson, and his wife, Linda, of NYC and Naples, FL; Robert Nelson, and his wife, Debbi, of Brooklyn, CT; Harold James Nelson III of West Warwick, RI; and eight great nephews.
Sister Ann’s wake will be held at Mount St. Rita, 15 Sumner Brown Road, Cumberland, RI on Friday, January 2, 2015 from 9:30 to 10:45 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am at Mount St. Rita Chapel. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland, followed by a collation for family and friends at Mount St. Rita’s Warde Room.
Donations in Sister’s memory may be made to Salve Regina University Fund for Scholarships, 100 Ochre Point, Newport, RI 02840 or the Sisters of Mercy Northeast, 15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI 02860. Information and condolences, please visit: www.galloglyfuneralhome.com
↧