Dentinger, St. Stephen

• Anastasia Mary Dentinger
• Anastasia Dentinger
• Sister St. Stephen Dentinger
• Sister Anastasia Mary Dentinger

Anastasia Dentinger was born in St. Agatha, Ontario on September 12, 1888. She was the daughter of Anthony Dentinger (born St. Agatha, Ontario, died 1933) and Mary Dietrich (born Waterloo, Ontario, died 1933). Her siblings were: Mary (Schwartz, 1876-1965); Eugene (1877-1962); William (born 1879) and Clara (Diethelm, born 1882), both of Saskatchewan; Carolyn (Busch, 1884-1966); Simon (1886-1963); Clemens (born 1890) of Saskatchewan; Joseph (born 1893), St. Agatha, ON; Anthony (1896-1961); and Mary (Steffler, 1899-1929).
Anastasia entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of London, received the habit on October 28, 1912, at Mount St. Joseph and was given the name Sister M. St. Stephen. Sister professed first vows on January 4, 1915, and final vows on August 15, 1918, in Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, London.
Sister St. Stephen was a graduate nurse who served in the Community hospitals in London, Chatham, and Sarnia. At Sarnia’s St. Joseph’s Hospital, she was on the nursing staff since its opening in 1946. While stationed in Sarnia she was known for being kind and thoughtful to all, patients, staff, and Sisters.
Her religious life was interwoven with her nursing career. In deep faith she prayed especially to St. Joseph to help with everything necessary for her patients and all those with whom she came in contact. She was well known in the hospital but what made her special was her deep interest and genuine concern for each member of the staff and all patients and visitors. Sister oversaw central supply at St. Joseph’s, but she was always concerned about the well-being of patients and the Sisters. She was an avid reader, most generous with her time and a friend to all.
Sister St. Stephen was instrumental in changing the way alcoholics were treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chatham and later in Sarnia. Instead of the small dark rooms with bars on the doors which were standard at the time, she took the locks off all the doors, furnished the rooms, and endeavoured to treat alike, with love and respect. Sister St. Stephen recognized the extraordinary ability of Sister St. Patrick Joyce who was in training at the time. Later Sister St. Patrick began a ministry to alcoholics and addicts in Sarnia and then in London where she opened a detoxification centre and a house for recovering alcoholics which she named St. Stephen’s house in honour of her association in Sarnia with Sister St. Stephen’s ministry.
Sister St. Stephen suffered a stroke at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sarnia and died on March 19, 1967. Her body remained there for a day so that the great number of Sarnia residents who wished to pay their respects could express their gratitude for her life. She was then transferred to London, and her Funeral Mass was held in Immaculate Conception Chapel, Mount St. Joseph, London, Ontario.

London, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Chatham, Ontario

Health care ministry
Missionary
Nurse
Social services worker

Sisters of St. Joseph of London Archives
Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada Biography Database