This week, Cranbrook will lose a special person and a special place.

Sister Nina Glinski has served the community through Marywood Retreat Centre for the past 16 years.

On Friday, she will close the front door of the house on the hill and leave, not knowing if she will return.

"It's sweet-bitter. I know inside that it's time to leave," Sister Nina told The Townsman.

She is a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame (CND), a religious order founded in Montreal in 1670 by Marguerite Bourgeoys.

The Sisters of CND have been serving Cranbrook since the Marywood property was purchased by the Diocese of Nelson in 1980.

Sisters Ellen Pickett, Marilyn Von Zuben and Jo Badali were the first to leave Toronto to begin the new mission in Cranbrook.

The prayer house at Marywood wasn't completed until 1982, so until then the Sisters lived in rented residences and took their mission to the road, offering programs throughout the East Kootenay. In 1982, Sister Nancy Hurren joined their work.

On November 15, 1982, Marywood was finally complete. Since then, another eight sisters have lived and ministered at the house on the hill: Sisters Marion Lawless, Mary Spicer, Anne Marie Lynch, Gertrude Hamilton, Denise Berube, Gertrude Jonson, Eleanor Monahan and, of course, Sister Nina Glinksi.

Set on 20 wooded acres on Cranbrook's western hills, Marywood overlooks Fisher Peak and the Rocky Mountains.

"We don't always know when we need healing. Here, people can look out the window at the mountains, the trees and the wildlife. Everything seems to have the capacity to speak to people when they are waiting to hear," said Sister Nina.

The property has seven retreat rooms, a private hermitage, a small chapel, a library, a living area, and offices for the Sisters.

As well as offering personal retreats, Marywood has run ongoing programs for seniors, addictions support groups, First Nations women, Italian women and many others.

"In our world today, we need resourcing. We're depleted. To resource themselves, for some spirituality and connection to nature and to others can give them what they need to go back into their life. They are not retreating away from life but for life," said Sister Nina.

Sister Nancy Hurren served at Marywood for 24 years, from 1982 to 2006, and now she runs a small retreat centre in Nelson.

People come from all over North America for the peace and tranquility found at Marywood, Sister Nancy said. The Sisters minister to more than 2,000 people a year through Marywood.

"It's quite surprising," she said. "This is a place people can come and find themselves. They can come to get themselves together and be invigorated."

But Marywood sits at a turning point. After much soul-searching, Sister Nina has decided to leave on a sabbatical year. She will visit with family in Ontario and Quebec, and spend time in retreat and study in the United States.

"People smile because they think that this white hair should end up in retirement. But religious women rarely retire," she said.

The Congregation of Notre Dame is not sending a Sister to take her place, so Marywood will close its doors - at least for the next 18 months.

The Diocese of Nelson will place caretakers on the property until a direction for the centre is clear.

"Marywood will no longer be the retreat centre as we know it," said Sister Nina. "But I don't feel it's the end."

Some of the programs Marywood offers will continue, such as the First Nations group, and the Italian women's group, run by associates of the CNG. But few if any will be held at Marywood.

"The seed has sprouted and new seeds have come up all over the place," said Sister Nancy.

To recognise just how much the Sisters of Marywood - and Sister Nina in particular - have contributed to the Cranbrook community, almost 200 people gathered on January 9 at Christ the Servant parish.

Numerous people who have been helped at Marywood took to the microphone to say thank you to Sister Nina. She was touched.

"If I never have another celebration, this was the celebration of a lifetime," said Sister Nina.

"It struck me that it was a cross-section of people - old, young, churchgoing, the non-churched - all together, shining, as one Cranbrook community.

"I felt that this is my family like I have never felt before in my life."

Sister Nina is humble but Barb Warman, who handles administration at Marywood, said she deserved every moment.

"It was about time. This place is the most unrecognised gem in the Kootenays. When people do find it, they say, 'Why didn't I come here 10 years ago?'"

Sister Nina, bearing that "sweet-bitter" emotion, is bravely facing this week's departure.

"There is sadness. I've shed tears this year, but I've taken the time to say goodbye so I'm ready," she said. "I'm ready to roll."