05 November 1925 – 12 January 2025

Sr. Monica Prendergast, baptised Margaret, was born in the small village of Clogheen, near Cahir, Co. Tipperary. She was very close to her family, especially her sisters, Maureen and her twin sister Joan, who never married and remained at the home place their whole lives. Margaret has her early education locally and went into Cahir for her secondary education. She joined MMM immediately after leaving school in 1944. MMM was only seven years founded at this stage and Margaret, taking the name, Sr. M. Monica, became one of the pioneer Sisters.

After her initial religious formation, Sr. Monica did her nurse training. At that time, Part One was done in Drogheda and Part Two in Dublin at St. Vincent’s Hospital. On qualifying, Monica returned to the hospital in Drogheda. She began as a staff nurse, but very soon was appointed Ward Sister, Assistant Matron and Matron of the new I.M.T.H. Hospital (now our Lady of Lourdes), all in quick succession. Her administrative skills were noted early, but more importantly she knew how to relate well with the staff, with the patients and with everyone she came in contact. She was a good listener and always had a word of encouragement.

Sr. Monica remained in Drogheda for fifteen years and it was only in 1968 that she was relieved of her duties there to allow her to take on an overseas mission. Sr. Monica went to Kampala Hospital in Uganda and over the years there developed a deep love for the country and its people. Within MMM, apart from her nursing duties, she was soon asked to take on Leadership roles, being responsible for three countries in East Africa.

In 1973, she was asked to return to Ireland and take on the leadership of the Motherhouse community. At this time the Motherhouse was still a large community of over 100 sisters. This she did for seven years, returning to Uganda and Masaka community in 1980. In 1985, Monica had to return to Ireland suddenly for emergency eye surgery from which she recovered well, but on her return to Uganda she found herself stranded in Kenya, unable to return to Uganda because of the on-going civil war which had blocked the border crossings. Civil war officially ended in 1986 and Monica was able to travel.

Sr. Monica continued in Uganda, with nursing and pastoral work, right up to 2006 when she was 81. Only then did she finally decide it was time to “retire”. But back in Drogheda she had an active retirement, taking charge of the Stamp Department for many years. She was known as a great letter-writer, and all sisters returning to their missions would certainly be carrying letters from her!
In the early 2020s her health began to fail more, and she went to Aras Mhuire for the extra care she needed. She died unexpectedly but peacefully on January 12th, 2025.

She is buried in Saint Peter’s Cemetery in Drogheda.