Two religious sisters aged either side of 100 have died in recent days: Sister Mary Winefride RSM and Sister Mary Walburga DOLC.
Mercy sister Mary Winefride Blake died on 30 July in Hutt Hospital. She was 101 years old.
Winefride grew up in a musical house and spent much of her life teaching singing a choral music at St Mary’s College in Thorndon, and was still involved in teaching a month ago.
She was trained as a singer before she entered St Mary’s Convent.
Requiem Mass for Winefide will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hill St, Thorndon Wellington on Tuesday 4 August at 11.00am.
Compassion sister Walburga (Dorothy Rose Marchant) died on 1 August at St Joseph’s Home of Compassion in Heretaunga. She was 98.
Walburga was brought up with strong family connections to te iwi Māori and her father worked with Māori in Manaia (Taranaki) and spoke the language.
She had a great and abiding affection for te iwi Māori and spent much of her religious life working among them.
A vigil for Walburga will take place at St Joseph’s Home of Compassion Chapel in Heretaunga on Tuesday 4 August at 4.00pm.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady’s Home of Compassion Island Bay Chapel on Wednesday 5th 2015 at 12.00pm followed by burial at Karori Cemetery.