Sister Anna Greenfield
Sr. Anna Greenfield was born in Ballyvarley, Banbridge, Co Down on 24th September 1923, the fourth child in a family of six. She belonged to a happy family that kept an ‘0pen door’ to friends and neighbours. Sadly, her mother died when Anna was only sixteen, and nine months afterwards, she broached the subject of her vocation to her father whose reply was, ‘’Go my child, but remember this door will always be open to you.” She followed the call to become an RNDM missionary.
The Juniorate, and Novitiate prepared Anna for Profession in March 1942. Her first mission was in Deal, Kent, where she looked after twelve young girls whose parents were busy in war-time work. This was a very dangerous and unpredictable time in England. Anna had a heart for the children and made sure they were well cared for and had what they needed.
Then in 1946, she was chosen with five other Sisters to go to India. Anna was assigned to the Shillong Mission at first. She helped with the care of tribal children in this North Eastern part of India. Later she worked in Chittagong, Dacca; both now part of Bangladesh; Haflong, and Calcutta.
In Chittagong, Anna excelled in Homeopathic medicine. She had the privilege of helping Sister Mary Aime, one of our well-known RNDM’s, with the sick. Anna made final profession in Chittagong and was asked to stay on, to take over the Kindergarten. She also took charge of the boarders, and cared for the orphans. She had a class of forty children aged 5 to 6. It was very difficult work, but her great religious spirit saw her through. She had a compassionate heart.
In Calcutta, Anna taught 40 to 50 seven-year olds in the Montessori Method with the help of two girls; the school was so much in demand that a second one had to be built. Anna was an excellent teacher and persevered with the children who found it difficult to learn. Her patience was outstanding.
Anna returned to the UK & Ireland Province in 1968. She gained her Teachers certificate quite easily after her teaching experience in India. She taught and worked for seventeen years in St. Ethelbert’s HMI school, Ramsgate in Kent, as well as helping to prepare children for First Holy Communion and organised a little Church choir, which grew over the years. She had a special gift with children.
Anna’s next mission was to the North of England, Leyland, as a Parish Sister working as coordinator with the Benedictine Fathers. Anna worked tirelessly with the Benedictine community of Priests and the people of the Parish as she helped train catechists, youth leaders and many other groups to become leaders in their own right. She supported and helped the RNDM Associates in the North of England. Apart from her usual work, Anna also helped distressed teenagers who needed care and shelter for the night. She was known to the parish as ‘The Queen of Wade Hall’, a very poor council estate. She was the champion of the poor. She sorted families out and fought to get them necessary help from the local Council, the NHS, and the SVP. The work done by herself and Sister Gabriel was greatly appreciated. In the words of Fr. Jonathan, OSB Parish Priest, ‘they were two great ladies” from whom he said he learned much.
As the years took their toll, Anna was transferred to Churchtown community in Dublin, in 2001. She loved travelling, whether it was to her beloved Ballyvarley, Banbridge, Co Down, to visit her family or into Dublin City to visit the different Churches and shops especially Veritas book shop.
Anna was an avid reader, mostly of missionary magazines and she was very prayerful. Her bedroom was a little oasis of peace and contemplation. She was a great lover of nature especially of flowers and birds, which she feed every morning. She loved to recall many stories about the children she taught and her mind was very much focused on her Indian Mission which she dearly loved. Anna was very witty and was never stuck for an answer. She took charge of the Associates in Ireland until her health deteriorated.
Anna kept herself active for as long as possible. Eventually it became necessary for her to have full time care. She was transferred to Orwell Queen of Peace Nursing Care facility. She loved the company of the others around and enjoyed telling stories with staff and residents. She looked forward to the visits of the Sisters and of her nephew Raphael and his wife Mary. Over the last year, her health gave cause for concern and once or twice, when we thought she was near her end, she suddenly rallied again. In the few weeks before her death, it was clear that the Lord was calling her home.
Anna died peacefully with two carers by her side, on 17th April 2020. R.I.P.
Due to the current COVID 19 restrictions, a private funeral took place. The Hearse bearing her remains came into our convent grounds, where a prayer was said and Hail Queen of Heaven sung by her community at a distance. Anna’s nephew, Raphael, his wife Mary and their son John were present. The Sisters and Anna’s family followed the hearse to Mount Venus Cemetery, where Sister Elizabeth Hartigan said the prayers at the graveside and the Salve Regina was sung. Anna’s nephew, Raphael Cribbin, put a lovely bunch of yellow flowers on her grave which Anna would have appreciated because of her great love for flowers. It was agreed to meet the family again at a more appropriate time, to celebrate Anna’s full and fruitful life.
“Death is not extinguishing the light, but putting out the lamp because the dawn has come”. (Tagore)
May she rest in peace.