Sister Julia Harrington
Sister Julia was the tenth of thirteen children [ten girls and three boys] born to Kate and John Harrington. Her parents came originally from Upperchurch, Co. Tipperary, but moved to Wexford in 1910 where they settled on a large farm.
Six of the ten girls became religious, five of them R.N.D.Ms
After finishing primary school, Julia spent a considerable time in hospital, the result of a serious knee injury that required surgery. This limited her, physically, for the remainder of her long life. However, she was never heard to refer to it and she never complained and never allowed it to deter her from work or movement. She travelled by air, sea, road and rail without a murmur of complaint.
As three of Sr. Julie’s sisters had already entered our Congregation, she was familiar with it, and when Sisters visited in 1936, she expressed the desire to return with them to Hastings. Her mother was concerned about her physical mobility, but the Sisters assured her it would not be a problem. And it certainly was not.
When Sr. Julia arrived in Hastings in 1936, she did not join the novitiate immediately. It was decided that she, and three other girls, would continue their education in the newly formed Juniorate; they were to be the first four juvenists. She spent two years there. She became a Novice in 1938.
Sister made profession in 1940, after which she completed a commercial bookkeeping and typing course. St. Ethelburga’s, Deal, Kent, was her first mission, an area in the “eye of the storm” during the Second World War. There was constant shelling of the coast of Kent, and Deal got hit several times. The school premises were damaged and, tragically, two young boys were killed in the school yard and sixteen people in the town. There was mass evacuation from the area and a decision was made to move the school to Upper Deal and the Sisters to the newly acquired “Beechcourt.” This was considered a safer location for the duration of the war. Sr. Julia described it as a “harrowing time”, but, typical of her, she never dwelt on her many horrendous memories of it, over the years.
After the war, the Sisters returned to St. Ethelburga’s Convent and Julia taught there, before obtaining her Teacher’s Diploma in Notre Dame College, Liverpool. Subsequently, she taught at Chew Magna, Sturry, Limavady and Cathcart before taking up her final teaching post in 1968, in Churchtown Primary School, Dublin, where she taught for twenty five years. On her retirement in 1990, she taught typing in the secondary school for some years, and later helped the senior school secretary until a new lay administration took over the school. On retirement from school, she continued to keep busy and interested, doing little jobs in community.
Sr. Julia had a great passion for life. She was an avid reader, loved doing crosswords, sketching, following politics, and watching sport on TV, especially hurling, rugby and Gaelic football. She became highly animated whenever one of her counties was playing. She had a great love of her native culture, music, song and dance and never tired of listening to her favourites, especially those singing the praises of Co. Wexford.
Sr. Julia was a private person, who carried herself with great gentleness and dignity. She had great wisdom and common sense and had a wonderful memory. She had no problem in accepting changes; she adapted to new technology and mastered the mobile phone, computer and i- Pad in no time. Her life style was very simple and her prayer life was deep. She had a wry sense of humour; when a doctor in the hospital complained that she never had any question for him, she answered with a smile, “I’ll think one up for you.” On 9th December, 2015, Julie had a wonderful celebration for her 100th birthday, arranged by her family. Three generations of family were present, together with some of her R.N.D.M Sisters. Over a year later, sometime after her 101 birthday, she had a minor stroke, which took a lot out of her, though her mind was clear to the end. On 3rd of February 2017, the senior doctor met with Sr. Julie, her nephew and two of the Sisters. He explained that from then on she would need constant care in a nursing home. Julia’s response was, “Don’t worry, everything will work out.” How right she was. About ten minutes after she had returned to her ward, she passed away peacefully, in her armchair.
Sr. Julia’s remains were brought to Churchtown Convent from Fanagan’s Funeral Home on February 6th. That evening, Mass was offered in our Convent Chapel for the Sisters and members of Julia’s family who would be unable to attend the parish church the following day. On Tuesday, February 7th, the parish priest, Fr. John Bracken, celebrated the Requiem Mass. Sr. Julia’s relatives provided the music, and her nephew, Toddy, gave a eulogy on her life. The Church was packed to capacity.
After the funeral in Mount Venus Cemetery, all returned to our convent for refreshments, and to continue celebrating Julia’s life. Members of her family sang and played music in her honour: All that was missing was Julia herself, and we felt she was present among us in spirit. She had a most enriching and fulfilled life: she was loved by all and her memory is very much alive in our community in Churchtown and among her large family members.
“Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine”
Ephesians 3: 20