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- Emily Genevieve (Gen) McIver was born to Peter and Margaret Ann McKenna McIver in Kinkora, P.E.I. in April 1915. She was the fifth of thirteen children. She was twelve years old when her mother died in 1927.
After her mother died, Gen left school and assumed the household duties and care of her younger brothers and sisters. Living on a farm with no running water in the house was a challenge. As a young girl she must have wondered what would become of her life, yet she operated on a strong line of hope even then. At the age of sixteen, she returned to school since her father had married Annie McGarry who assumed the household labors. Gen felt insecure about returning to school, yet was clever with books and surprised herself in passing the entrance exam for the Teachers’ College. After a year, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Saint Joseph where she joined her two aunts Sisters Mary Charles and Mary Damian and two cousins Sisters St. Hugh and Georgetta Driscoll.
“Everyone loved Gen. We had fun skating, swimming, and we always had lots of cousins to have fun with”, reflected Tina, Sister Margaret Pierre’s sister. Sister Margaret Pierre loved her family, the community, and the church. She became a fine teacher and taught first and second grades in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Waverly and Olivia, and in Grand Forks. After teaching 45 years she joined the staff at the Stillwater House of Prayer which provided a quiet and beautiful atmosphere in which people could pray and reflect.
In 1987 Sister Margaret Pierre became a member of Sisters Care which provides home assistance to handicapped people and the frail elderly. People were naturally drawn to her healing presence, and no matter how busy she was Sister Margaret Pierre was always ready to do a favor for someone.
Jesus taught that to enter heaven we must become like little children. Sister Margaret Pierre was childlike, guileless, simple and caring. Her values and beliefs were evident in the way she lived. Her uncomplaining nature drew many into her friendship. Friends valued how she kept confidences, was hard-working, and had a marvelous sense of humor.
The last three years of her life were probably the most difficult as she struggled for physical balance while on kidney dialysis. A great Twins fan, she was on her way to a game when the doctor called saying he wanted to begin dialysis that afternoon. She later told the doctor of her disappointment. Dialysis was not considered extraordinary means and it gave her two good years of life….and Sister Margaret Pierre loved life. During these last years, she endeared herself to other dialysis patients and nurses by her gentle, loving ways.
Time came when she realized her quality of life was deteriorating. She decided to stop the dialysis. Although it was an agonizing decision, it brought her peace. As she patiently waited for death, she planned her funeral Mass – a celebration of her life for all of us.
Story submitted by Sister Kathleen Roehl
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McIverPEIAncestry.ca Electronic Family Tree
1915 - 1992 (77 years)
