1923 – 2026
Born: 26th October 1923
Entered Religious Life: 26th October 1947
Died: 13th March 2026
Sr Teresa Xavier was born on the 26th October 1923 in Borris, Co. Carlow to Parents, Johanna and Matthew Byrne and was named Margaret Mary. Margaret Mary was the eldest of six children, one brother Pat and four sisters Kathleen, Anna, Carmel and Joan. She attended the Brigidine Convent Secondary School in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny. She then gained her Preliminary Nursing Certificate.
Her parents were part of the local farming community in Borris, Co. Carlow and they passed on to their children their own rich vibrant faith, Christian values and practice. From them also the children had a great love of Ireland, of the land, nature and all God’s creation. When Margaret Mary was 24 she felt the call to serve God in Religious Life and she entered the Religious Sisters of Charity in Mount St. Anne’s Milltown, Dublin on the 26th October 1947, it was her 24th birthday. Kathleen, her sister also entered the Religious Sisters of Charity and Anna entered the Holy Rosary Sisters. Her religious name was Sr Teresa Xavier.
After her profession in 1950, she nursed in St. Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney, Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross and in Baldoyle Hospital until 1956 when she trained as a nurse in St. Vincent’s Hospital and in 1959 she did her Midwifery Training in the Thorpe Coombe Maternity Hospital in London.
In 1960, Sr Xavier went to Zambia, Africa and worked there for fifteen years until 1975 when she returned to Ireland to do a course in Public Health Nursing. In the following year she returned to Zambia. For the next eighteen years she nursed in many areas in the Southern Province in Zambia as a Public Health Nurse. In 1985 she was appointed Supervisor of the National Family Planning Movement in the Southern Province. During this time too she was Local Leader in various convents. For the last three years of her time in Zambia she was Medical Co-ordinator in Ndola, in the Northern Province.
Being a skilled nurse and midwife, Sr. Xavier loved working with women in the villages, in bush areas, enabling them, even in outward poverty, to be happy, autonomous and fulfilled in their self-esteem in relation to their spouses and with their children. She was totally committed and worked tirelessly to educate and uplift women and give them a sense and belief in their own dignity and self-worth.
In 1993 she took a well-earned break, some of which was spent in the Holy Land. Her zest for helping and caring wasn’t over. At 71 years of age she worked as a nurse in Shanganagh Open Detention Centre for Young Offenders in Wicklow. Sr Xavier loved this work where she ministered to the medical needs of these young lads and built up a great relationship with them. After seven years in this work she helped out in a nursing capacity in St. Patrick’s, Kilkenny, Lakelands and Crumlin Convents.
Eventually she retired to Gardiner Street and following the closure of Gardiner Street Convent she went to Naomh Brid community and finally to Stanhope Street. But Sr. Xavier did not know the meaning of retirement.
Blessed with a remarkable memory, a keen wit and intellect, unbelievable determination, she took a great interest in everything. She depended on her rollator, her trusted friend, and she sped everywhere as if she were in a race, so much so that the Jesuits in Gardiner Street called her Speedy Gonzales! She loved her community and she lived a full, happy and independent life. She celebrated her 100th birthday on the 26th October 2023, but old age did not deter her. She became ill in 2024, recovered, but then it was evident that Sr. Xavier needed full time care. She was transferred to McAuley House, Beaumont, on the 11th July 2024, and she was beautifully cared for and loved there. On the 8th March 2026 she suffered a slight stroke while at Mass. She deteriorated over the next few days and was peacefully and beautifully cared for by the staff in McAuley House. She slipped away quietly and serenely on the 13th March 2026.
Sr Teresa Xavier was indeed a remarkable Sister of Charity and lived her long life to the full. Her constant words were: “Thank you, thank you very much, go raibh mile maith agat, zickomo”.
May she rest in peace, Amen.
