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Sister Corona Wyse was an educator all her life, and in 2013 at the age of 96 moved to live in the motherhouse. She is active every day and if she disappears from the nursing floor it is to go to the main chapel or to play cards every night with her companions on the third floor.
Corona was born in Placentia on July 15, 1917, and entered the Presentation congregation in 1934. She began her teaching career in Grand Falls, where she remained from 1936 to 1960. Corona served as the director of novices for the Presentation Sisters from 1961-1964 and then moved to Corner Brook where she was principal of Presentation High School. In the 70s Corona was religious education consultant with School Boards in Stephenville and St. John’s, and director of religious education in Bowie, Maryland. Subsequently she studied and taught at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
She is also a perpetual student with a bachelor’s in English, master’s in educational administration, spiritual guidance, counselling, religious, and pastoral studies, and a doctorate in philosophy of education.
Upon retirement from the school system she did adult faith formation in central Newfoundland and worked with many groups out of St. Catherine’s Renewal Centre. She then volunteered for a year in Dominica in the West Indies; for the remainder of the 90s and the first decade of this century she lived and ministered in Gander. Sister Corona is an avid reader, especially of historical works on the Wyse family of Waterford, and an author. In 2006 she published a book titled Not Words But Deeds for our associates to help them better understand their heritage. It details some pertinent history of the congregation and our foundress, Venerable Nano Nagle. Included also are poetic contributions by several other sisters.
Her spirit and her sense of humour are still strong, as is her sense of dedication to the congregation she joined when she was 17 and the Gospel mission for which it stands! Sisters and family members celebrated Corona’s long life with a special Mass and dinner, and sisters, associates and friends joined Corona for a reception in the afternoon. It was a day filled with gratitude, laughter and remembering.
This brings our centenarians to four community members – a great blessing for all of us.