Sister Mary Adelaide McAteer

1913 – 2011

Born: 24th February 1913

Entered Religious Life: 2nd October 1933

Died: 13th November 2011

Appreciation of Sr Adelaide McAteer

Sr. Mary Adelaide McAteer was born near Newry, Co Down in 1913 and entered the Sisters of Charity in 1933. She spent most of her religious life in England, working as a Parish Sister in Hammersmith, Basingstoke, Rockferry, Chester, Bath, Birmingham, and Basildon. She retired to Cappagh in 1994 and came to Loyola, Merrion in 2005, where she died on the 13 November, 2011.
Sr. Adelaide was a true Sister of Charity throughout her religious life. The words of scripture: “When I was hungry you gave me to eat, when I was thirsty you gave me to drink, when sick you visited me” were truly lived out in Adelaide’s life. She was totally dedicated to needy families and the elderly. In Basildon she started a ‘tea and chat’ club in the sacristy of the Parish Church for the old folk attending the 10 a.m. Mass and they loved it. She visited the sick in hospitals, and the bereaved in their homes, the troubled came to her for advice. Another facet of her caring for others was the support, encouragement and advice she gave to the priests. She was always concerned for their welfare and prayed for them regularly.
Her great form of relaxation was the garden; she just loved the garden and plants and spent hours sowing, watering and pruning and delighting in watching the fruits of her work in their growth. When in Cappagh she established a small garden beside the Convent Chapel, this matured after she came to Loyola and is still flourishing there today. As well as the garden she loved to crochet – much of this was making lace collars for the dancing costumes of children in her niece’s (Helen) dancing school.
Adelaide was a person of deep faith, integrity and prayer. She had a warm heart that was open and welcoming to all. “Thank you” was always on her lips for even the smallest deed done for her. Adelaide had four great loves in her life – God, her family, her religious Congregation and Community, and her country, Ireland.
We say ‘Thank You’ to Sr. Adelaide for the inspiration that she has been to many of us who live with her and knew her.
What was written in her heart was written all over her.
May she now enjoy her reward in the love and peace of the Trinity.