Sr. Mairead Kelleher

The death has occurred of Sr. Mairead (Margaret) Kelleher, Provincial Superior For The Irish Province Of The Congregation Of The Daughters Of Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart. Affectionately know as Rita by her family, she passed away suddenly on Thursday, September 25th. Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, and formerly Inegreaga, Midleton Co. Cork.

 

Predeceased by her brothers Larry, Tom, Mick, Paddy and Fr Dick.

 

Sr. Mairead was well known and deeply loved. She dedicated much of her life to serving in the Nzhelele area of the Makhado district in the Northern Province of South Africa.

 

The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart ran a wonderful clinic there, caring for the sick who came from near and far. Alongside this ministry, Sr. Mairead poured her energy into social outreach, with a special focus on women and families in the surrounding villages.

In her efforts to combat poverty and empower people to earn an income and create opportunities for progress, she helped to organize several development projects. At Nzhelele, she worked with local women to establish a bakery. In other villages, she introduced deep trench gardening, enabling families to grow nutritious vegetables. She also set up sewing groups that produced children’s clothing as well as beautifully styled dresses for women.

Education was another area very close to Sr. Mairead’s heart. Recognizing that many mothers and grandmothers had never had the chance to attend school, she established adult literacy programs to help them learn to read and write.

These are just a few examples of her extraordinary care, vision, and commitment to the people she served.

 

Sr. Mairead is deeply regretted and remembered with love by her brother Fr Denis, sister-in-law Breeda, nephew Mark, nieces Mary, Brenda and Sheila, extended family, The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Community and her many friends.

 

Leaba i measc na Naomh go mbeidh aici anois.

 

Sr. Mairead will repose at the Convent Chapel, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan (A75EH99) on Sunday afternoon (September 28th) from 3pm until removal at 6:45pm (driving) to arrive at St. Patrick’s Church, Ballybay, for reception prayers at 7pm.

 

Her funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, Ballybay, on Monday morning at 11am, followed by removal to her native Co. Cork.

 

Sr. Mairead will repose at Hydes Funeral Home, Drury’s Avenue, Midleton, Cork (P25VW02) on Tuesday evening from 7pm until 8pm. Funeral mass will be celebrated in the Holy Rosary Church Midleton Co. Cork, on Wednesday morning at 11am, followed by burial in St Fachtna’s Cemetery, Glandore, Co. Cork.