Sister Ellen Martin, RSM

Ellen Martin RSM, a Sister of Mercy for 63 years died peacefully at Bethany Residence in Providence, Rhode Island on December 27, 2024.  Ellen was the daughter of the late John T. and Catherine (Clancy) Martin of Pawtucket Rhode Island.  She was predeceased by her brothers Thomas F. and Daniel M. Martin.  She is survived by her brothers Charles Henry Martin (Sue) of Tiverton and John Paul Martin of Little Compton, numerous nieces, nephews and their children.  Ellen entered the Sisters of Mercy in Providence on September 8, 1961 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Salve Regina University.  She told friends that she wanted to walk in her mother’s footsteps as a nurse.  She served as the health coordinator for the Sisters of Mercy for 34 years.  With her nursing bag in tow, she cared for sisters in infirmaries, at home, by phone and at Mount St Rita Health Centre where she received an award in 2009 for her service.

For ten years she was a nurse in the Looking Upwards program where she ministered to 23 developmentally disabled women.  In 2008 she was awarded the Hidden Star Award by Looking Upward for making a difference.  She was also a Visiting nurse for Home and Hospice of Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Ellen partnered with the staff at St. Catherine’s Parish in Little Compton as a Eucharistic Minister.  Her Mercy presence was a great comfort to the sick, home bound and grieving.  She was dubbed the Mayor of Little Compton as she generously shared her warm and joy filled spirit with the larger community.  She decided to open the second floor of her home on the water as a retreat center where people came to pray and relax.  She provided them with meals and direction.  She was also an assistant in establishing the Little Compton Assistance Association, a non-profit for workers and residents of Little Compton in need of short-term funding.  Ellen’s life in nursing made her a foreshadowing of the physician’s assistants of today.  She certainly carried out her mother's work by her life in Mercy.

When Ellen needed care herself, she became part of the community at Bethany Home of Rhode Island in Providence where she participated in the life of the community there until her death. When Ellen became aware of new residents needing some assistance settling into a new home, Ellen reached out to them with tender compassion to help them in this transition.  She always assured the new resident that it would be “no time” until they too experienced the warm and caring environment of Bethany Home.  She was grateful for her loving, compassionate caregivers at Bethany, as are the Sisters of Mercy for providing her this safe, secure home at the end of her life.

Her funeral will be held at St Aidan-St Patrick Parish, 1460 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, on Thursday, January 2, 2025.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Mercy Prayer Service at 9:45 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m.  Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland, immediately following the Liturgy. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Sisters of Mercy, 15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI 02864 would be appreciated.  Information and condolence, please visit: www.galloglyfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sister Ellen Martin, RSM, please visit our floral store.