How significant it was to have Peace as one of her names, because in the year she was born, World War I was drawing to an end and families would be praying for lasting world peace. Her father was a Returned Serviceman and suffered from the effects of it. The Crombie family of three girls and a boy grew up in Wellington. Ruth and Norman married, while Barbara entered the Sacred Heart Sisters. Patricia entered the Sisters of Compassion in December and with her two companions, Sisters Walburga and Flora, made their First Profession on 15 September, 1940.
During 1945-1949, Sister Patricia successfully passed her General Nursing Training also her Maternity and Midwifery studies. With these qualifications she was well equipped for her ministry of compassionate care at St Vincent’s Home, Auckland, the Nursery at Island Bay, and care of the elderly in St. Joseph’s Home, Heretaunga, St Vianney’s Home, Timaru, and at Our Lady’s Home, Island Bay.
Sister Patricia had a gentle and quiet personality and was never one to seek the limelight. Her strong sense of enjoyment along with a lively sense of humour and the laughter she shared willingly with the children and elderly brought joy into their lives and lightened their illnesses. Sister Patricia’s general knowledge was fuelled from the books she read as she was an avid reader up until the time of her illness.
Sadly, her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s was a long and lonely journey for her, and we could never know the extent of the suffering that this illness brought her. The Sisters along with her family supported her faithfully and she remained 12 years at St Joseph’s Home of Compassion where she died peacefully on her 90th birthday. Sister Patricia was a faithful and dedicated Sister of Compassion for 72 years.
Born Entered Professed Died Place of Death Place of Burial
06.11.1918 07.12.1937 15.09.1940 06.11.2012 Silverstream Karori Cemetery
