Timothy, Sr. Mary, 76, Aburn; in Auburn, July 25, 2008.
AUBURN – Sr. Mary Timothy, OP (Maxine) McHatten, died at the age of 76 early Friday morning, July 25, 2008, at the Hospice House in Auburn after a short illness.
She was born on Oct. 20, 1931, in Castle Hill, the daughter of Herman and Verna (Sharp) McHatten. Born and raised as a Methodist, at the age of 23, she became a member of the Catholic Church under the guidance of Fr. Paul Pare. In 1956, she answered the call to become a Dominical Sister. She did her Postulancy in Brookline, Mass., then spent two years in Mortefontaine, france, where she continued her initial formation as a Novice and Temporary Professed. She made her final vows in 1961 in Lewiston.
Before entering the Dominicans, Sr. Mary Timothy received her B.S. in elementary education from the University of Maine in Presque Isle. Shortly after her final vows, she relieved her M.A. in secondary education from Boston College. She went on to further her education receiving an M.A. in biblical studies from Providence College in Rhode Island, a PhD. in biblical studies from the University of Ottawa, Canada, and her Eleve Titulaire from l’Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem, Israel.
Sr. Mary Timothy was an educator all her life. In her early assignments, she was a teacher at St. Dominic’s Institute in Brookline, Mass., and at St. Dominic’s High School in Lewiston. In 1967, she was assigned to Phoenix where she was a teacher, school principal and a scripture instructor at Kino Institute which was the Diocesan Center for Adult Religious Education. Since 1989, she was a professor of scripture at Mount Angel Seminary and had made her home in St. Benedict, Oregon.
Sr. Mary Timothy also published articles for Emmanuel Magazine and Bible Today. She gave several conferences and retreats to a variety of groups throughout the years, as well as directed and accompanied several trips to the Holy Land. She has served the province as a provincial vicaress.
Sr. Mary Timothy’s love for Scripture and teaching was an inspiration to all who came in contact with her. She touched many students’ lives and instilled her love of God’s word in their hearts. On Sunday, July 20, Sr. Mary Timothy celebrated her 50th Jubilee Celebration as a Dominican Sister at Holy Cross Church in the presence of her Dominican community and associates, the Holy Cross church parishioners, her family, friends from the area, as well as friends from the area, as well as friends and colleagues from Oregon.
She is survived by her sister, vella Condon from Wade, ME; several nieces and nephews; and her Dominican community.
She was predeceased by her parents and one sister, Marie.
