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Thelma Cook, nee Dion, was born in Belleville, ON but raised in Tweed, a small town north of Belleville. Thelma comes from a strong Catholic family background and attended Catholic schools throughout her childhood. Her sense of service and religious commitment led her to train as a nurse at St. Joseph’s in Peterborough in 1951. Graduation as a registered nurse followed 3 years later in 1954. A bond with the sisters was formed as Thelma continued to work alongside the sisters for a year at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Peterborough following graduation. She married her husband, John Cook, in 1955 and together they made their new life in Tweed for another two years. At that time, a return to John’s family farm took them to Marmora where they lived on the farm until 1963. But John’s illness was progressing, making work on the farm difficult. This resulted in a subsequent move to Campbellford where Thelma had been working for two years at the Memorial Hospital. Despite having to care for a sick husband, Thelma worked on a part-time basis, and then switched to full-time evenings. Her talents were recognized as she moved upwards to assistant supervisor and then supervisor for a total of thirty years. By this time, John’s health had deteriorated further, calling Thelma to care for him full time at home until his death. A further call to service came in 1991 when Thelma went as a medical missionary to Equador. It was to be a lasting experience for her. The group was sent to the very outskirts of Sucua, a mountainous rain forest area. The missionaries set up clinics where they treated every type of illness. Thelma remembers the details of the trip with happiness, knowing that she had a God-given opportunity to help those most in need of care. It was Sr. Gloria who first reintroduced Thelma to the Sisters of St. Joseph. Thelma attended a Development & Peace presentation by Father Burn and two sisters; it turned into a life changing experience that drew her to many prayer meetings and bible study. When Sr. Pat Cavanagh formed an Associate community in Campbellford, Thelma felt called to become an Associate. It felt like a coming home and an opportunity to grow closer to God, to become more faithful and to enhance the bond that had started all those years before when she attended a Catholic school and worked in health care with the Sisters of St. Joseph. Being an Associate helps Thelma to maintain a perspective of faith when it comes to life’s challenges. Moreover her faith is renewed as she is supported by the faith sharing and companionship of her fellow Associates.
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