Sister Mary Ita R.I.P
Poem
Not, how did she die, but how did she live?
Not, what did she gain, but what did she give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a person as a person, regardless of birth.
Not, what was her church, nor what was her creed?
But had she befriended those really in need?
Was she ever ready, with a word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not, what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when she passed away?
Memories of Sr Mary Ita by Sr Kathleen Colmer:
A boarder of the Ursuline school at Westgate wrote:
When I was sad Sr. Mary Ita told me: "Smile a while, and when you smile, another smiles, and soon there's miles and miles of smiles, and life's worthwhile because you smile”.
This sums up the Sr. Mary Ita we have known and loved. Never without her rosary, her bible and Ireland’s Own!
We are pleased you are with us at Mass today. It’s a joy to have two of Mary Ita’s nieces here as well as Ursulines, family, friends and past pupils watching via livestream.
Mary Teresa O’Riordan, known also as Aunty Maureen, was born into a close-knit family in Castleisland, Kerry. She was the youngest of the three girls; she also had three brothers – Donal, John Jo and Brenda. All three girls became Ursulines (Sisters Anne and Brendan) along with their cousin (Sister Kieran). In a letter amongst Mary Ita’s papers, I found one addressed to the parish priest of Castleisland. The then Provincial wrote:
‘It gives me great satisfaction to tell you that these young religious are excellent people and we only wish we had many others like them.’
Sr. Mary Ita had an amazing gift for friendship. Whether she was at Greenwich, Forest Gate, Westgate, Wimbledon, Silvertown, Ilford or in Newham General hospital she brought a smile and comfort to all. In the last few weeks we have received numerous memories about her. She is described as compassionate, non-judgemental, friendly, kindly, gentle and always smiling. She was her own person and could express her opinions clearly; she was no shrinking violet. Even a short while before she died her gestures made it very clear to the doctor that she didn’t like the oxygen and wasn’t going to drink any water!
In her younger years Mary Ita worked largely within the community and school settings. She related well to young people, always willing to play hide and seek to distract bored children.
This will give you a flavour of the messages we received:
“I can’t remember a day when Sr Mary Ita wasn’t serving behind the dinner hatch, her lovely smile not only lit up her face but cheered us up. Her voice was gentle and had a lovely Irish lilt. No matter what vegetable she was giving us, it came with happy and encouraging words! She stood out like a shining star in the middle of every day.”
“I remember her roller skating with us in the courtyard.”
“I loved it when she was on dormitory duty, we would always have lights off late as she told us stories of her childhood.”
“She caught me with my socks down so often and my hat tipped to the back of my head. 10p a time! Thankfully I didn’t chew gum because that was a 50p fine.”
“She was the most caring, kind and beautiful soul, and the funniest. It was a privilege to have shared so much of my life with her.”
Mary Ita could also tell a story against herself. When she was helping in the kitchen at Forest Gate, she was asked to order 200 sausages for school lunches but accidentally ordered 200lbs. They couldn’t be returned to the butcher. At that stage fridges were walk-in cold rooms. She said walking into the cold room she was greeted with curtains of sausages hanging from every available space. They had to be parted before you could reach any other item! Sr. Mary Ita cared for many Ursulines when she was the community infirmarian. This ministry was a great help when she moved to the new community in Silvertown. There she became a parish worker and a hospital chaplain. Both proved to be roles in which she was eminently suited. The Parish priest once said of her that “She could make a lamp post talk!”
The years as a chaplain at Newham General were happy and fulfilling for her. She made numerous friends and brought joy and great comfort to the many patients she visited. They would be given not only spiritual comfort but also the latest story from Ireland’s own! I’m not sure how much the multicultural patients understood the stories, but they loved her visits. Whilst working at Newham General she received an invitation to go to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace - she was thrilled. She entered into the excitement of the day and had many a story to tell for years afterwards.
Although very young when she became an Ursuline (she was not yet 20 when she made her first profession) she never lost contact with her Irish roots. She loved all the news about her extended family and that of the parish back in Castleisland. It was always a joy for her to visit her family and for them to visit her. She had an incredible memory for Irish songs, poetry and stories. Mary Ita returned to Westgate in 2003. She carried on her ministry in the locality and daily visited our sisters in the Lourdes Care Home.
We have a final story to share:
“I remember an encounter with seagulls and their babies, and how from her childhood experience with hens, she knew exactly how to clasp them to her to keep them safe from cars coming up the back drive! She also talked about the chapel cloister flat roof being like a runway for the baby seagulls learning to fly and take off from!
Old age finally crept up on Mary Ita. A few years ago she joined the sisters in the Lourdes Care Home where she was made very welcome. As she became frailer she graciously accepted help. The move to Wanstead in September 2021 seemed to go well for her as she was still among people she knew.
When she was no longer able to make her wishes known her smile continued to welcome all who visited her. Staff in Lourdes and Chestnut Manor loved her and gave her great care. We thank God for the four O’Riordan Ursulines whose presence warmed and enhanced so many peoples’ lives. We thank Mary Ita for her life of dedication, prayer and service. We miss her, but we’ll always remember her laughter and smile. May she rest in peace.
