Sister Mary Marcella (Margaret Josephine Roache)
Mary Marcella was born in 1918 and baptised Margaret Josephine. She died just four months short of her 100th birthday. Her parents, Joseph and Sarah, were of Irish descent. Joseph was born in New Zealand and Sarah’s family came as one of the Fencibles. They lived in Hamilton and had three daughters, Bridget, Acushla and Margaret. Sarah was a nurse and caught the 1918 flu while nursing people. She died four months after Margaret’s birth. Margaret lived with an aunt and uncle for some years until her father remarried Marcella, (Sarah’s sister – Margaret’s aunt). They had a further two daughters, Maureen (Sister Mary Christina RNDM) and Teresa. Margaret grew up in Galloway Street, Hamilton East, and attended St Mary’s Primary School and then moved on to secondary school at the Juniorate in Pukekohe.
In 1937 Margaret entered the Novitiate. She received the name, Mary Marcella, and kept that name for the rest of her life. In 1940, she began her first mission in Pukekohe where she taught Standard 1 and 2 for two years. Like so many Sisters of the time, Mary Marcella moved every couple of years and there were times when she was in a community for less than a year. This showed a real resilience and ability to take up whatever was asked of her. She taught in most of the schools in Taranaki and many schools in the Waikato, as well as Panmure and Pukekohe in Auckland. She took up the position of Teaching Principal in Hamilton in 1942 – only two years after Profession. Her skills of leadership and her ability to relate to many people were recognised very early on in her teaching years. Mary Marcella continued in her mission of teaching until 1978 – 38 years as a teacher; often as Principal and sometimes being the local Superior as well. She had a couple of years when she was the boarders’ mistress in New Plymouth at Sacred Heart Girls’ College, but, other than that, Mary Marcella spent all these years with primary pupils. There are many people around the country, and, in fact, the world, who remember their years in her classroom with gratitude for her wonderful teaching
Mary Marcella often spoke lovingly of her years in Waitara where she spent thirteen years as the Teaching Principal and Boarder’s Mistress and then, later on, another nine years involved in the parish. Our Sisters had a boarding school there for primary-aged Maori girls and Mary Marcella would have been a wonderful mother figure to them. It is no wonder she formed a real love for the people there.
Mary Marcella was a special woman who, with gentleness and humility, did everything out of love for God. She is remembered as a kind and loving Superior who considered everyone and never spoke a cross word. She never complained and took life as it came, facing it with a positive attitude.
In 1986, at the age of 68, Mary Marcella volunteered for overseas mission. She stepped out into the unknown and moved to Tailemataolevai in Samoa where she was surrounded by lush, tropical forest. She loved the bush and nature there and always spoke of this time with great affection. Mary Marcella really enjoyed helping the young men learn some of the skills necessary to run their own farms. It was a great shame that only a year and half after arriving, she slipped and broke her femur. No one else was at home at the time and it was a while before she was found. She spoke of the dog coming to keep her company while she waited. Tailemataolevai was a long way inland and she endured a painful and difficult trip down to the coast where she was then flown to Apia for an operation. Mary Marcella came back to New Zealand to recover, never to return and fulfil her time on mission in Samoa.
In the 1980s, Mary Marcella lived in Panmure, Auckland and was always the smiling face with a friendly welcome when anyone visited. She was often out and about visiting people, or just down the street connecting with whoever needed a friendly smile or a listening ear.
It was in 2007 that Mary Marcella moved to Mission Rest Home in New Plymouth and was a warm and loving presence there for over ten years. She was well loved by both the staff and other residents. Mary Marcella was a real inspiration to many Sisters, pupils and friends over the years, providing a listening ear and wise counsel. She wrote poetry and often took her inspiration and subject from nature around her. She was also a very creative person and until about three years before her death, was still doing handicrafts. Even in the year before she died, she was writing children’s short stories which Mary Philippa Reed illustrated for her. She was not afraid to embrace new opportunities and, well into her 90s, she was sending emails and making cards on the computer.
About 30 people gathered in the Mission Rest Home Chapel on Monday evening, 12 March, for prayer and sharing to farewell Mary Marcella. Three decades of the Rosary were prayed, and then stories of Marcella’s life were shared by our Sisters and Marcella’s friends. Some of her past pupils were present and spoke lovingly of a dedicated and caring Sister who gave her all for their education. Some regarded her as the ‘best teacher they ever had’.
Her Requiem Mass was celebrated in Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Fitzroy on Tuesday 13 March at 10:30am. Approximately 60 people gathered as we remembered and farewelled Mary Marcella. Father Sanjay was the main celebrant and Father Fergus Reeves, in his homily, reflected on the reading from the letter to the Philippians: “Jesus emptied himself and that emptying oneself is at the heart of what it means to live the Christian life.” Marcella emptied herself willingly as Christ did to serve others so that they could share something of God’s love for them. Marcella’s cousin, Fr Frank Roach, prayed the Prayers of Commendation at the end of Mass. After an enjoyable time of refreshments together, we laid Mary Marcella to rest alongside our other Sisters in the Awanui Cemetery.
Mary Marcella did so much for others throughout her life and was a support and help to so many people. She will be remembered as a great RNDM – some would say a saint. She had a missionary spirit, love and care for others, a positive outlook on life, an engaging smile and was kind to everyone she knew and met.
May she now rest in peace.