Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 88
D.O.B. 12.05.1921
First Profession: 08.09.1945
Died: 19.09.1949 Aged: 26 years
Mary Ellen (May) Duignan came from Arva, Co. Cavan and entered MMM on 7 December 1942.
Following profession, she trained as a midwife. During her time at the maternity hospital, she became Matron Phelan’s “right hand”, and Matron succeeded in delaying her assignment overseas. Eventually, however, she was assigned to Nigeria, where she worked at the Mater Hospital, Afikpo. Unfortunately, her time there was all too short. One day, on the way to a bush clinic with the hospital team, the car in which the team were travelling overturned on the pontoon and Sr. M. de Sales was among those who were thrown in the water. She drowned. After her body was recovered, she was laid to rest at Afikpo.
Sister Gabriel was born and grew up in Drumgriston, Co. Monaghan. She went to school in Billeady and later at the Mercy Convent, Castleblaney. She entered MMM in March l942, when the Congregation was only five years old. Those were also the war years and life was not easy. Following her initial formation and first Profession of Vows, Gabriel trained in midwifery in Drogheda. She was then assigned to St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, Nigeria. Having served for eight years there she was brought back to Drogheda to do her general nursing training.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 520
D.O.B. 25.01.1931
First Profession: 03.04.1954
Died: 19.08.1977 Aged: 46 years
Sr. Damien, baptized Margaret Mary, was a native of Durrus, Co.Cork, and emigrated to the USA. She entered MMM in Boston, MA, on 8 September 1951, and was in the first group of novices in the USA, the first postulant having gone to Ireland for her novitiate.
Sister Margaret was born in Clonegal, Co. Carlow in 1921. She received her education in the national school in Clonegal and joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary in 1950.
She made her first profession of vows in 1953 and was assigned to the nursing home run by the MMM in Clonmel. She was responsible for the catering for both the residents and MMM postulants. For the next twenty-nine years, Margaret continued to provide catering services in Drogheda; in Airmount, the maternity hospital run by the MMMs in Waterford; and in Rosemount, the house of studies for Sisters in Dublin. She provided a welcome and a hot meal no matter what time the students and staff arrived.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 17
D.O.B. 25.09.1918
First Profession: 08.09.1941
Died: 19.04.2008 Aged: 89 years
Josephine Doyle was born in Piercestown, Co. Wexford. She was one of ten children, with four brothers and five sisters. From her early letters it seems that she became acquainted with Mother Mary in early 1938, soon after Mother Mary had returned from Nigeria and MMM had been founded.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No. 129
D.O.B.: 03.03.1925
First Profession 02.07.1947
Died: 19.09.2010 Aged: 85 years
Julia Teresa Doyle, known in her family as Sheila, was born in Busherstown, Co. Carlow into a farming family.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 379
D.O.B. 03.08.1912
First Profession: 03.05.1957
Died: 22.05.2000 Aged: 87 years
Mary Doyle, from Galway, entered MMM in Clonmel on 2 July 1954.
Nationality: American
Congregational Register No: 538
D.O.B. 01.09.1939
First Profession: 23.04.1960
Died: 26.05.1970 Aged: 30 years
Sheila, who came from Chicago, entered MMM in Winchester, Massachusetts, on 12 September 1957. She is fondly remembered as being vivacious and loving, laughing and joyful, as well as sensitive and dedicated to MMM. She had a beautiful singing voice. After first profession, she came to Drogheda, where she did her nurse training.
Nationality: Irish
Congregational Register No: 11
D.O.B. 21.05.1920
First Profession: 17.03.1941
Died: 06.02.1959 Aged: 38 years
Sr. Agnes, better known to us by her baptismal name of Sheila, was one of our early members – number 11. She came from Enfield in Co. Meath. Sheila was a very young girl when she entered at Rosemount on 21 May 1938. She had a very gentle disposition and was loved by everyone who knew her.
Sister Kathleen was born in Newpark, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland in 1935. She attended a local primary school and went to the Loreto Convent in Omagh for her secondary education. She qualified in psychiatric and general nursing and in midwifery at Belfast City Hospital. She had an adventurous spirit and after a year’s experience in Ireland, she worked in Zambia as a lay missionary. She spent two years there as a nurse and matron. In 1971, shortly after her return home, she joined the Medical Missionaries of Mary.
