Farewell Sr Maureen Howley rsm

Maureen Agnes Howley was born into a large family in 1933. After attending St Liborius School in Eaglehawk (which in those days went to Form 2), she completed Proficiency and Intermediate in 1948 and 1949 at St Mary’s College.

Sr Maureen was professed in 1953 and was a much-loved member of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea and an integral part of her large extended family.

In later years, Maureen lived in the Mercy House in Barkly Street with Sr Clare Conway. She was always interested in the activities at the school and attended many events and reunions with Sr Clare.

After moving to Mercy Health Bethlehem Home for the Aged, Bendigo, Maureen took a keen interest in the iGEN program. She loved the program and enjoyed spending time with the students and sharing stories with them. She encouraged the involvement of other residents and would always try to be available when the students visited. During the pandemic, Sr Maureen took part in many online sessions with the students and was pleased to meet face-to-face again with those students after restrictions eased.

Sr Maureen was also very interested in the student-led climate activism movement and showed her support for the student rallies in Bendigo.

The Institute of Sisters of Mercy remembered Maureen as “a woman of deep faith and love for her Mercy Sisters and her family. She had a wonderful attitude to living life to the full despite significant health issues and limitations following a stroke some years ago.”

Sr Maureen Howley died peacefully on 7 September 2022 at Mercy Health Bethlehem Home for the Aged, Bendigo aged 88 years and in her 69th year of Religious Profession.