Before entering the Sisters of Compassion, Eva trained as a nurse at Wellington Hospital, and after obtaining her certificate, remained on the staff as Sister-in-charge of a ward for a year before taking up the position of Sister-in-charge of the Otaki Sanatorium, a position she resigned at the request of Mother Aubert in order for her to enter the Sisters of Compassion.

Eva was 30 when she entered the Sisters of Compassion on the 24 August 1910. She had received very good references from three doctors who worked in the Wellington Hospital the same time as she did. Eva entered at Buckle St. and began her Novitiate training on the 7 April, 1911. Her religious name was Sister Mary Clotilde. Sister Marcelle, was Sister’s novice mistress. Sister Clotilde was professed on 2 October, 1913, while Mother Aubert was away in Rome.

In May of 1914, Sister was sent to Auckland to take charge of the Nursing at St. Vincent’s Home of Compassion, and was there until it closed in 1916.

At the outbreak of the ‘Flu Epidemic in November 1918, Sister Clotilde was placed in charge of the Sisters who volunteered to nurse in the Community, specifically in Island Bay and Berhampore. Later, when Sister Genevieve caught the infection, Sister Clotilde took charge of St. Patrick’s College Temporary Hospital, and remained in charge until it was closed.

In January 1923, Sister Clotilde took over the management of the Women’s Ward [St. Anne’s], in order to train our Sisters as Hospital Nurses. She also gave Courses of Lectures to prepare them for their State Examination. The first class trained by her all passed – two with honours. Sister continued this work until 1929, when she was transferred to Buckle Street.

From 1933 to1939 she belonged to the newly formed Community at Ponsonby, Auckland, where St. Vincent’s Home of Compassion was once more established. In March, 1939 she was transferred to Silverstream where she stayed until the General Chapter of 1951 when she was elected Second on the Leadership Team.

During the last years of Sister Clotilde’s life Mother Melchior asked her to write little pen-portraits about some of the Sisters of Compassion. Before this, during the 1940’s Sister Angela had asked Sister Clotilde to write her reminiscences about Suzanne Aubert.  These were inserted into the Copia Publica along with other documentation sent to Rome in 2004, at the close of the Diocesan Enquiry into the cause of Suzanne Aubert.

Sister Clotilde was a very spiritual person. In 1962 Sister had to give up all activity as her health and strength had failed considerably. She was now suffering from asthma and she became physically very frail, although her heart and constitution were very strong. Sister died on 28 March, 1963 quite suddenly, but most peacefully.

Born                    Entered                Professed              Died               Place of Death            Place of Burial

15.10.1880       24.08.1910           02.10.1913        28.03.1963             Island Bay              Karori Cemetery