RIP Sr. Catherine O'Connor
Sr. Kathleen McGarvey, Provincial Leader of OLA (Ireland), shares some thoughts at Sr. Catherine's funeral. Sr. Catherine passed away on March 20th, 2016. May she rest in peace.
Sr. Catherine O'Connor, RIP.
1923-2016
Good afternoon and welcome. We are gathered here today to bid farewell to a very beautiful, gentle and good lady, Sr Catherine O’Connor, a woman of great charm who seems to have touched the hearts of all those she met in a very particular way. We are indeed very sorry to see her go but we thank God for the gift that she was, for her long and full life, and with faith we entrust her back to God.
A special word of welcome today to Sr Catherine’s two brothers, Gerry and David, also to her sisters-in-law, Eileen, Eileen, Bella and Nellie; I know Sr Kitty was not just your in-law but also a good friend. Failte to all the many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews gathered here today. I have been very much impressed by the great closeness, love and respect you have all shown during these last days towards Sr Catherine, who seems to have truly been the Matriarch of the O’Connor clan. You, her family, meant so very much to her. I am told that she followed closely the life journey of each one of you, putting you and all your needs and concerns before the Lord, insisting ardently in prayer at all times. As we ask God to grant Catherine eternal rest, we also ask God to give you strength and consolation. We believe Sr. Catherine is now reunited with all the family members who have gone before her including her parents, John and Julia, her siblings: Mary, Dan and John as well as her other deceased relatives and friends. May they together pour blessings upon you, and intercede for you all from above. A prayerful woman all her life, Sr Catherine will no doubt continue to ask Our Lady of Knock to guide and protect each one of you.
A very special welcome also to the many other relatives, friends and neighbours gathered here today. Failte to the OLA Sisters from the various corners of Ireland and to all the Religious here present. Welcome to our ever faithful SMA brothers and all the other priests who are here on the altar to celebrate with us.
Sr Catherine indeed saw many changes in both mission and in religious life during her ninety three years on earth. Before entering religious life, she worked in the Mills in Blarney. Then in March 1949, when she was just over 26 years of age, she entered Ardfoyle. She made her first profession here in Sept 1951, and vowed to give her whole life to God and to God’s service, especially in Africa. After profession she did a very brief course in domestic science in Mary Immaculate and in Dublin and was then sent out to her first mission in Ghana, travelling by boat. Referring to those early days in Ghana, in her memoirs, Sr Catherine herself said: “I think the most difficult years of my life were the years I spent in schools, without any training”. Her first tour was for five and a half years, without coming home. In all she spent nine years in Ghana between Keta and Hohoe. From 1962 - 66 she trained to be a nurse and a midwife in England, then spent two years in the OLA Community and nursing home in Castlemagarrett, Co. Mayo, and then in 1968 she was sent to Northern Nigeria where she worked in Kaduna and in Jos as a nurse, midwife and hospital administrator for eighteen years, until she returned to Ireland in 1986. She then worked in Castlemagarrett from 1987 until finally coming back here to Cork in 1994. While health allowed it, she cared for sisters in the infirmary here, she continued to look after the flowers in the gardens until her legs no longer could carry her, she availed of the free transport to visit many of the beauty spots in Ireland, and up until just a few days before God called her, she was in so many ways a vibrant presence in this community. Her very distinctive voice, discussing and laughing, will indeed be missed in the dining room.
I am told that Sr Catherine was a most caring and capable nurse, a highly organized administrator, a firm but very kind employer, and also a most kind, forgiving, compassionate, caring community member. She was, I am told, beautiful to work with and beautiful to live with. As somebody remarked, Catherine was a positive person who turned every situation into a source of life and hope. The Provincial of Nigeria has sent a beautiful letter of condolence and said the testimony of love and service that Sr Catherine gave in Nigeria remains a legacy they will forever cherish. Among my own memories of Sr Catherine are her energy and laughter when telling any story, her love when tending the flowers and rose bushes here in Ardfoyle, and her gentle care when feeding the birds even from her infirmary room. No doubt the birds are singing out this day!
Some symbols have been placed here before the altar which bring out some characteristics of the woman whose life we celebrate today: the African carvings, making present the great love Catherine had for Africa and its people, especially Ghana and Nigeria; a baby cloth which Catherine knit reminding us of her great love for her family; her sewing kit reminding us of her very talented hands and of a hobby which she often put to good use to benefit the poor; the garden tools and the flowers which speak of her love of all creation, both people and nature. As one sister said to me, Sr Catherine had such a great gift for making things beautiful both inside and outside. We thank God for Catherine.
I take this opportunity to thank Sr Dolores, Sr Bernadette and all the staff in the Infirmary as well as Sr. Maura and the House Council here in Ardfoyle who show such respectful care and compassion daily to our elderly and infirm sisters. I also thank Sr Nuala, Maria and the Sisters in the choir, Sr Kate our sacristan, and all the Sisters who have helped prepare today’s liturgy.
I now hand you over to Fr Maurice to lead us in our Eucharist as we entrust Sr. Catherine into the hands of God.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh go leir.
Kathleen McGarvey, Provincial Leader of OLA (Ireland).
