Mary entered the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion aged 21 and at her reception into the noviciate received the name of Agatha. Following her profession Sister Agatha spent two years at St Vincent’s Home in Auckland before returning to the Hospital at Island Bay to commence her General Nursing training. Then Sister completed Maternity and Midwifery training at the Wellington St Helen’s Hospital. A competent nurse Sister Agatha soon held positions of responsibility in the Home of Compassion Hospital.

She was Assistant Matron for many years and frequently imparted her medical knowledge and skills to the Sisters who were nursing trainees.

Agatha was a quiet and gentle person, a thinker with an engaging wit, observant, and supportive to a degree in times of emergencies. As spoken at her requiem ‘A wealth of knowledge she tucked away and how generously and competently she shared this with many Sisters who trained or worked with her in the hospital. Physicians also benefited from her knowledge and experience’ (Sr Anne Galvin).

In addition to nursing Sister Agatha added radiography to her skills. She received on the spot training from a qualified Radiographer who had confidence in her work. Sisters will remember being instructed by Sister Agatha in the use of the B.M.R. machine and the first Electrical Cardio Graph machine, and setting up the B.S.R. columns out side the Central Dressing Room.

Eventually Sister Agatha had other assignments in the Homes’ of Compassion in Auckland, Carterton, Wanganui and Silverstream. Ill health and ageing slowly brought her nursing activities to an end. Her later years were spent in her usual quiet way preparing herself for her last journey to God whom she served and loved so nobly and generously. Gently and graciously she accepted illness and gratefully received nursing cares and attention. Sister Agatha died as she lived, quietly and peacefully. We thank God for her life and for how she has gifted us with many happy memories of herself.

We pray she will have eternal rest with Suzanne Aubert and other Sisters of Compassion who have gone before her.  R I P

Born                 Entered             Professed              Died                  Place of Death        Place of Burial

10.04.1915    16.07.1936         19.03.1939        06.09.1996              Wellington              Karori