So Much In One Little Painting

I found this little gem (9X12) of a painting on the weekend

at a local 'thrift shop'.

The scene caught my attention as it feels so familiar.

Two kids in a rowboat in summer.....this has happened to many of us.

I looked on the back of this acrylic painting and was surprised

to discover that it was done by someone here in Halifax in 1988.

In fact, it was painted by a nun who lived at 

Mount St.Vincent Motherhouse, which was

the headquarters and residence for the 

Sisters of  Charity.

The Sisters of Charity taught in the public schools in Halifax 

when I was a student. They taught me from grades 8 to 12.

Here is a link to learn more about this 'order':

Sisters of Charity (click)

The name of this 'artist' was also on the back. On the front

of the painting are only the initials S.E.S.

This woman's name was Sister Evelyn Spruin.

She died in February of this year here in Halifax.

I wonder if this was a 'moment in time' that she experienced

many years ago here in Nova Scotia,

and during her retirement years she took up painting 

and recalled this summer day.

I did some research online and found out the following information

on this 'artist':

Sister Evelyn Spruin

Spruin, Sister Evelyn, (Teresa Evelyn), 93, died at Parkstone Enhanced Care on January 4, 2013. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia on February 3, 1919, she was the daughter of James and Florence (Halliday) Spruin. She entered the Sisters of Charity-Halifax on September 8, 1947 and made her final profession on August 15, 1956. From 1950 to 1953, Sister Evelyn was assigned to general duties such as receptionist and office work. Her educational ministry began in 1953 in Dorchester, Mass, followed by North Andover, Mass, Lowell, Mass and then Dartmouth, NS. Later, she was missioned to such places as St. Foy, QC, Amherst, NS, and Halifax, NS. She then opted to become a Library Assistant and Secretary at Mount Saint Vincent University from 1974 until 1985. In that year, she began work in the Renewal Centre at Mount Saint Vincent Motherhouse and also served as Purchasing Clerk and then Purchasing Director until her retirement in 1998. Sister Evelyn resided in Walsh House from 1978 until 2007 when she moved to Parkstone Enhanced Care. She is survived by her half-brother, Edward, Halifax, NS, and a niece Barbara (Randy) Adachi, Pasa Robles, CA. She was predeceased by her brothers, James and Douglas. The body will be in Caritas Residence with visitation from 3 – 7 p.m. on Monday, January 7. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 8, at 10 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Chapel of Caritas Residence. Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville, NS. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Charity Ministry Fund.