Sara entered the Sisters of Compassion at Island Bay on 30 August, 1909, and received her Religious name Sister Mary Louise on entering the Novitiate. Sister Louise was Professed on 19 March, 1912, in the presence of Archbishop Redwood and Mother Aubert.

Sister Louise was one of the first six Sisters of Compassion to pass the State Examination in General Nursing. She showed an aptitude for nursing being particularly attentive to the dying. During the influenza epidemic of 1918, Sister was on the staff of St. Patrick’s College Temporary Hospital as Night Nurse.

Most of Sister Louise’s Religious life was spent at Silverstream continuing the nursing she loved. She died at Silverstream after suffering a severe heart attack, which caused her great pain, and remained conscious to the end repeatedly praying the Holy Name of Jesus.

Birth                    Entered                Professed              Died              Place of Death           Place of Burial

07.03.1877       30.08.1909           19.03.1912        23.02.1963         Silverstream            Karori Cemetery