Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 120
D.O.B.  12.05.1924
First Profession: 06.01.1947
Died: 30.04.2008 Aged: 83 years

Catherine Angela Durnin came from a large farming family in Lawlesstown, Dunleer, Co. Meath. She had five brothers and three sisters.  The young Catherine Angela contributed to the household income with her dressmaking skills after she left St. Brigid’s National School, Dunleer. 

She entered MMM in 1944, aged 20, when the congregation was still young and took the name Sr. Mary Angela.

Following first profession, Sr. Angela undertook housekeeping and sewing duties in Ireland before being missioned to Dareda, Tanzania (Tanganyika as it was then known) in 1949.  She returned to Drogheda in 1951, spending the next ten years in the IMTH. She undertook midwifery training during this time and was registered as a midwife in 1953.

In 1962, Sr. Angela was assigned to Nigeria and spent four years in Urua Akpan and Ogoja in charge of midwifery units and teaching midwifery.  She then returned to Ireland and did her general nurse training.  Sr. Angela returned to Nigeria (Biafra) again late in 1969 and spent the next fifteen months there.  This was to be her last assignment overseas.

After returning to Ireland, Sr. Angela worked in Drogheda as the labour ward sister for a lengthy period of time and is remembered as being quite strict but maintaining high standards of care for the mothers and babies.  She went on to become the infirmarian in the Motherhouse and also coordinated the fund-raising activities of the Dublin Committee.  In 1988, Sr. Angela had a change of career after studying reflexology and went on to give care and comfort to many people for a number of years.

Sr. Angela became a resident of Áras Mhuire in 1998 due to the disabling effects of Parkinson’s disease.  She was confined to a wheelchair, had difficulty in communicating and became increasingly dependent on others for all her needs. This must have been very hard for her as she had been such a bright, outgoing, independent and active person.  However, she bore her infirmity with great patience and her ‘non-demanding attitude was a great inspiration to everyone.’ 

Sr. Angela slipped peacefully away to her eternal home on 30 April 2008.