SR. MARY EUPHRASIA REGAN

Although the youngest in a family of five, Sr. Mary Euphrasia was strong and independent. Following her vocation she put her hand to the plough; she never looked back. She entered our congregation in 1943 at the age of twenty. Her sister, Mary St. Aidan had preceded her and was a lifelong inspiration to her, in her reliance on God and endurance in suffering.

Sr. Mary Euphrasia was very enthusiastic with any work she undertook. She worked in many of our convents in various apostolates, especially in Home Management, Nursing and accounts.

She was responsible for the sisters in the Juniorate in Hastings and when our sisters were invited to look after Archbishop John Charles Mc Quaid’s residence in Kiliney, Dublin, Sr. Mary Euphrasia was invited to oversee the running of the house, a work she carried out meticulously. Her presence was greatly appreciated by the Archbishop and the other priests who worked there. She was a good organiser and manager, with high expectations of herself and others.

In 1970, she trained as a State Registered Nurse and then put her nursing into practice at Beechourt in Dover Hospital. After completing a Spiritual Life Course in Rome in 1977, she took her nursing skills to Kenya where she worked alongside Sr. Bernardine Corcoran in nursing and dispensary work. Everywhere, Sr. Mary Euphrasia showed the same dedication and reliability. She was always very kind and helpful to priests and to patients in her daily care.

She returned to Wealdstone in 1981 where she cared for the sick. She also worked in Hastings and Leyland attending to household duties, driving and community accounts. She was delighted to return to Kenya in 1988, but unfortunately, her time there was short lived, because of ill health, which necessitated her return home. Mary Euphrasia accepted her situation with courage, generosity and dignity

In 1998, she became a fulltime Local Bursar in Churchtown, Dublin, until her failing health made it necessary to employ a lay Bursar. Even then, she still saw to the petty cash and dispensed money to the sisters. She was fully organised, kept the records in perfect order and prepared the Bursar’s work, thus saving him time and the Congregation added expense. She was a singer and good at needlework. Mary Euphrasia was very attached to her family, especially to her nieces who visited her often. On one occasion when her brother and nephew visited and the latter showed her pages from a copybook belonging to her, which he had come across when doing research in Trinity College, Dublin. Euphrasia was impressed. The pages were about Irish culture, cures, superstitions etc. that a selected number of Irish children had been asked to write about, to be preserved in Trinity College. Later, she published a short piece on it in “The Times” newspaper

Her family would have liked her to spend her final days in Ireland, but Mary Euphrasia wished to be in Sturry, where she could receive the care she required and be among our sisters for the spiritual care they enjoyed. Her mobile phone was a great source of entertainment and news for her. It kept her mind active and in touch with the world, and her family, until the Lord called her to Himself on September 1st 2022 R.I.P.

Sr Mary Euphrasia’s funeral was held in St Anne’s Chapel, Sturry, on September 29th. Three relatives came from Galway to attend and Fr Cathal Gerraty, a family friend, celebrated the life of Euphrasia, where he gave thanks for her long and active life. For those who were unable to attend the Celebration of Sr Mary Euphrasia’s life, the Mass was videoed from the Convent Chapel.

“In the night of death, hope sees a star and listening love can hear
the rustle of a wing.” (Robert Green Ingersoll)