Sr Patricia McGlade RNDM
Sr. Patricia Josephine McGlade was born into a loving, faith-filled family. She was one of six children of Mary and Henry McGlade; two brothers, three sisters and Patricia the fourth member of the family. In her early years, after sharing with a friend that she would like to become a religious sister, she was invited to join her as a border at the convent school in Limavady, Derry, Northern Ireland. Her parents supported Patricia’s wish and even though she found the first few weeks difficult, it was the simplicity and cheerfulness of the sisters which helped finalise her desire to become an RNDM. During her school days, Patricia was a keen sportswoman who enjoyed competitive outdoor games, netball and rounders. Despite the difficulty of leaving such a closely-knit family, Patricia travelled to England in 1958 to join the novitiate in Hastings.
After profession, Patricia, now called Sr. Mary Martin de Tours, was asked to take up driving and catering for the communities in Sturry, Beech Court and Wealdstone until 1973, when she was sent to Teacher Training College at Coloma, in Kent. From there she began her teaching career in our RNDMs primary school, St Anne’s, until in 1979, she was asked to take up a teaching position in two Catholic Primary parish schools, St Ethelbert in Ramsgate, Kent (1979-1980) and St Thomas a Beckett in Eastbourne, East Sussex, from 1980 until 1897. Sr. Patricia was missioned to Chew Magna until 1994, when she took up the challenge of going to Romania for a year to care for the orphans left abandoned after the Nicolae Ceauşescu Regime (1965-1989). This was a very special time for Patricia, to be on Mission in a war torn country. The condition of the orphanages were challenging for the sisters concerned, but Patricia used her skills to the full and her levels of compassion were outstanding. She returned to Beech Court where she resumed her catering and driving for the community.
Sr Patricia was well known for her cooking skills and it was said that no one could make a Christmas pudding like her!
On St Patrick’s Day, 2021, Sr. Patricia celebrated her 60th anniversary of profession and her 80th birthday. It was a lovely day, where sisters came from Euphrasie Barbier Community, Sturry and Wealdstone for the combined feast to make up for the fact that her family, due to COVID, were unable to travel from Ireland to celebrate this wonderful milestone in Patricia’s life. Two Benedictine priests from Ramsgate came to celebrate the Eucharist with great song and ritual!
During the next year, Patricia suffered health problems, but still continued her daily duties until she was taken into hospital for tests. Unfortunately, her condition worsened. The sisters in Beech Court accompanied her final days. It had always been her wish to make one last visit to Ireland to see her sister and the family, but it was not possible. She accepted this situation and her last words to her family were, that she would remember them in Heaven! Sr. Patricia died peacefully in the presence of her RNDM sisters, July 18, 2022 in Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Her funeral was held in Beech Court, August 4. Her sister and her two sons came from Ireland to join the community as they celebrated the life of Sr. Patricia. The Funeral Liturgy and burial was videoed by one of the sisters, for those who were unable to travel from Ireland. Sr. Patricia was laid to rest in Deal Cemetery with our deceased RNDM sisters. RIP.
“May there be a beautiful welcome for you in the home that you are going to.”
(John O’ Donohue)