Patricia and her sister Teresa (Tess) were part of St Canice’s Parish and attended the local primary school conducted by the Mercy Sisters. After completing her education, Patricia worked in a local business before moving to Wellington.

During 1945, Sister Patricia with two companions entered the Sisters of Compassion in Wellington and received her Religious name Sister Mary Philip. Sister Philip was Professed as a Sister of Compassion in 1948.

Sister Philip trained as a nurse and received her New Zealand Registration in 1954. Throughout her active years of ministry Sister Philip had a variety of transfers and appointments in many of the local and overseas communities. Along with nursing duties she willingly accepted the extra role of Community Treasurer, showing her skill and aptitude for finance. She was appointed Treasurer General of the Sisters of Compassion in 1987, a position she held for many years. She retained her hand-written book-keeping systems, reluctant to adopt computer skills to lessen the deskwork. She was devoted to her electronic typewriter which never let her down.

Sister Philip had a quiet personality, and appreciated the ways the Sisters respected her privacy. Known to enjoy sports, especially cricket, she attended major matches at the Basin Reserve. She was a keen stamp collector and carefully maintained albums of local and foreign stamps. She has left a wonderful collection of stamp albums, all expertly catalogued, and many hours had been spent cutting stamps off envelopes to help the Missions. Her general knowledge and retentive memory was often put to the test to help and guide people. No idle hands for Philip, a book in hand, knitting needles moving, or the crochet hook and a ball of wool close by, as she watched her favourite TV programs. A collector of items, a gentle manner and a kind work on her lips, a warm rapport with the younger generation, love of her family and Congregation are the lasting memories Sister Philip leaves with us.

Under the nursing care of the Wellington Hospital Staff and with the presence of her family Sister Patricia died peacefully on 26 August 2013. A good and faithful servant of the Lord.

Born                  Entered             Professed             Died               Place of Death      Place of Burial

15.02.1927      15.08.1945        19.03.1948       26.08.2013         Wellington         Karori Cemetery