Sr Rosaria had great sense of humour
Sr. Rosaria O’Neill
Sr. Mary Rosaria (Phyllis) O’Neill was born on 10 April, 1923 in a Nursing Home in Lower Leeson Street, Dublin.
She took great pleasure in recounting the fact that it is now the office of the Sacred Heart Messenger.
Her parents Douglas and Sarah O’Neill also had a boy who died at birth.
Sister received her education in various locations. For a time as a Primary School child she boarded with the St. Louis Sisters in Middletown, Co. Armagh.
Her father died while she was still very young. When she finished Primary School, she went on to board in St. Joseph’s School, Convent of Mercy, Navan. It was an all-Irish school where she became proficient in the Irish language. This helped her to teach it in an exemplary manner in later years.
She entered the Convent of Mercy, Seatown Place, Dundalk on 30 May, 1941 and received the habit and her religious name on Easter Sunday, 4 April, 1942.
She was called to Carysfort Training College, Dublin where she completed a two-year teacher Training course. Because of this she was unable to commence her Spiritual year until 1 July, 1945.
She made temporary profession of Vows in 1946 and three years later, on 2 July, she made her Final Profession as a Sister of Mercy.
She began her teaching career in 1946 in the Convent National School, and later she taught for a number of years in Castletown Girls National School before going on to teach in St. Vincent’s National School in 1954.
Following a request from Bishop Thomas J. Toolan of the Diocese of Mobile – Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A for Sisters to staff a Grade School there, she, along with four other sisters volunteered to go.
They arrived there on 15 August, 1960 where they had been assigned to Holy Family Parish, Mobile. They took charge of the school founded by the Pastor, Fr David Sullivan and already in operation. A compact comfortable convent was provided for the Sisters.
Sr. Rosaria returned to Ireland in 1968 to undertake a one-year course in Formation in Bellinter, Co. Meath following which she became Mistress of Novices.
At the same time, she returned to Primary teaching in Réalt na Mara NS. In 1972 she became Rev Mother, a position she filled for six years.
Subsequently she was involved in Leadership in Ardee.
Having completed a Sabbatical year Sister then served in various ministries in Dundalk including teaching in the VEC school (now Ó Fíaich College) and in Holy Family Parish, Ballsgrove, Drogheda.
Her many ministries throughout her life over and above her Mercy Apostolates of teaching, visitation of the poor, sick, house-bound and bereaved included Parish work, Scripture meetings and Prayer Guidance, among others.
While in Ardee she was active in the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association and in Dundalk she was an enthusiastic participant in the Charismatic Movement.
An avid reader until recent years, Sr. Rosaria kept abreast of current trends in Theology and all the activities in our Religious Congregation.
For relaxation, she enjoyed listening to Clas- sical music.
Always one to embrace a challenge and try some new experience, ‘for a change’ Sr. Rosaria had a keen sense of humour, enjoyed a good story, good company and was perpetually young at heart. She modelled for all of us how to live in and enjoy the present moment.
Still mobile in her 96th year, Sr. Rosaria was ‘up and around’ until 16 August. Having become ill she was admitted to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda where she received exceptional care until her peaceful death on 31 August, 2018.
Her remains reposed at the Convent of Mercy, Mill Street. On Monday 3 September they were removed to St Patrick’s Cathedral for Requiem Mass at 11 o’clock. Fr Fergus Breslan was chief celebrant, assisted by Fr Edmund Duffy SM and Deacon Rev Paul O’Reilly.
Family members and Sisters participated in the Liturgy. The organist was Brendan McCourt and the singing was led by Mary O’Hanlon.
Sr. Rosaria is survived by her very loving cousins, her Mercy Community and many friends.
May she rest in peace.