Great sadness befell the family when Mrs. Kraus died. Patricia was only ten.

Patricia entered the Sisters of Compassion in 1945 and made her first profession in March 1948. During the early 1950s sister trained as a nurse, graduating in both General Nursing and Midwifery. Patricia passed her Midwifery exam with honours gaining the top marks in the country. Her father was so proud of her.

In 1963 Sister Patricia was appointed matron of Our Lady’s Home of Compassion Hospital, where she contributed to the hospital with her meticulous, compassionate administration.

On completion of her term as matron, Sister Patricia worked at Wanganui, Flaxmere and Silverstream. Besides caring for the sick, Patricia enjoyed the outdoors and loved exploring the Wellington walking tracks.

Sister Patricia’s life is best described in a reference written by Sister Rae before Pat attended a spirituality course at Baulkham Hills, Australia. Sister Rae wrote:

Pat is a thoughtful, prayerful woman, with a very keen intelligence and a
warm sense of humour. She is a perfectionist and hence will go to no end of
trouble to do her best in whatever she does. Pat is a very lovable person and
makes friends easily.

Sister Patricia died in the early hours of the morning on 13 December 2019 aged ninety-two. Pat faithfully lived her call as a Sister of Compassion and proclaimed with her life that God’s presence and love is with us always and everywhere. May she rest in peace.

Born                 Entered           Professed             Died            Place of Death         Place of Burial

21 .08.1927     1945               19.03.1948        13.12.2019          St Joseph’s         Karori Cemetery