Sister Genevieve was born Patricia McCrea in Oakham, Rutland, England in 1928. The daughter of Jane and John McCrea, she was one of a family of eight. She attended the Manton Church of England School for her primary education and in 1939 moved with her family to Dublin, Ireland. Patricia completed secondary school with the Dominican Sisters in Cabra, Dublin and trained as a dress designer and cutter. She worked for five years before joining MMM in 1952.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No. 391
D.O.B. 01.08.1926
First Profession: 03.05.1957
Died: 14.12.2004 Aged: 78 years
Margaret Attracta was born in Sligo, one of a large family of seven girls and three boys. She was educated at St. Mary’s National School, Ballindoon, Doyle, Co.Roscommon, and after leaving school, worked as a shop assistant until she entered MMM in 1954.
Sister Giovanni was born Anna McCormack in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, in 1929. One of seven girls, her family moved back to Ballynacorgy, Co. Westmeath while she was very young. She attended her early education with the Mercy Sisters and trained as a confectioner. She joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary in 1952.
After profession she worked in central stores in the IMTH in Drogheda for ten years and in the stamp department.
Sister Bernadette was born Josephine (Josie) McConville in Portadown, Co. Armagh in 1929. After working for a year as a secretary, she joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary in November 1948. After profession she was editor of ‘Peg’s Corner’ in the MMM magazine. This was the section devoted to ‘children big and small’. She addressed her young readers as ‘Mary’s little missionaries’ and encouraged them to write to her, sending photos and other personal data. Through stories from MMMs, friends and volunteers she told people about our work and encouraged them to contribute to helping others.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 360
D.O.B. 18.04.1922
First Profession: 08.09.1956
Died: 15.11.1957 Aged: 35 years
On 3 October 1953, Patricia from Larne, Co. Antrim, entered MMM as a qualified nurse. She is remembered as a gentle, quiet and retiring person. Following first profession, she staffed in the IMTH before becoming very ill.
Sister Gerardine McChrystal was born Ellen McChrystal in Derry city in 1927. One of six girls and six boys, she was known as Eileen in her family. She worked in a sewing machine factory before joining MMM in 1953. After profession she worked in the MMM laundry in Drogheda for six years and then trained as a nurse-midwife. In 1966, she was assigned to Tanzania, where she spent nine years in Kabanga, first as a staff nurse and then as assistant matron and matron.
Sister Bernard was born Catherine McCarroll in Kilsyth, near Glasgow, Scotland in 1931. She attended Holy Cross School, Croy for her primary education and later went to St. Ninian’s in Kirkintilloch. She was full of enthusiasm and had many talents, including being an accomplished organ and accordion player. She played the organ in Holy Cross Church, Croy, before joining MMM in 1953. Bernard completed nursing training in Drogheda in 1959, in one of the first groups to qualify there.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No. 270
D.O.B. 02.10.1921
First Profession 06.04.1953
Died: 12.07.2001 Aged: 79 years
Sr. Therese Bernadette was born in Co. Cavan, but her home place was Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. Mary Angela, as she was called then, came from a family of four brothers and three sisters. After her basic schooling, Sr. Therese Bernadette went to England and trained as a general nurse and then as a midwife.
Sister Moyra Martin (formerly Sister Alacoque) was born in Reaghstown, Ardee, Co. Louth in 1927. The second youngest in a family of six girls and four boys, she attended school locally and in the Saint Louis Convent in Co. Monaghan. She trained as a nurse after joining MMM in 1946. She began her training in the International Missionary Training Hospital (IMTH-now Our Lady of Lourdes) and completed it in Jervis Street Hospital in Dublin. In 1953, Moyra was assigned to Nigeria and was a ward sister in Saint Luke’s Hospital in Anua for five years.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No. 149
D.O.B. 17.09.1926
First Profession 09.09.1948
Died: 10.05.2001 Aged: 75 years
May Martin was born and had her early education in Co. Roscommon. She entered MMM in 1945, already a pre-med student at University College Dublin. She continued with medical studies, taking a break for her spiritual year between 1946/47.
