Sister Martha Harrington
Sister Martha Harrington, sscm, was born in Charleston, Illinois on August 13, 1936, to William, Sr., and Helen (Driscoll) Harrington. She shared her birthdate with her twin William. Martha was raised in rural Coles County, Illinois where she attended CCD classes and first knew Catholic Sisters who taught her about Jesus. She attended Humboldt grade school and Mattoon high school. At Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Urbana, she met the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary. She entered the convent in July 1962 and made profession of vows on February 2, 1965.
Sister Martha’s ministry was divided in two. She worked as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Urbana early in her career. From 1980 on she ministered as a certified chaplain, and for 34 of those years she served at Our Lady of Victory Nursing Home, Bourbonnais. There she touched the lives of hundreds of residents, family members and staff. A special concern was for staff. “I get a lot of credit for what they do,” she once said. Sister loved and was greatly loved in return.
Sister Martha held a special devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. That saint’s spirituality, called “The Little Way,” consists of daily actions of hidden love and devotion. Knowing the joy and simplicity of Sister Martha’s life, it is evident that she and St. Therese are “soul sisters” now together in heaven.
Sister Martha died as she lived – gently – on June 14, 2024. Special thanks go to the ER staff and the staff of 3 West at St. Mary Hospital and Uplifted Care Hospice who cared for Sr. Martha in her last days.
Sister Martha was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Rosemary Whalen and her brother-in-law, Arthur Whalen. Surviving are her brothers, William and Daniel (Judy) Harrington, their families, her religious family, the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, and many people she touched with her simple, loving heart.
Her wake will be held at Maternity BVM Church on Thursday, June 20, from 9:30 a.m. to before the Mass of resurrection at 11:00 a.m. A meal will immediately follow the Mass. Burial will be in the Sisters’ cemetery, Beaverville, that afternoon.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Maternity BVM parish, Bourbonnais, and the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, 2041 West State Route 113, Kankakee, IL 60901.
