1935-2025
Born: 11th October 1935
Entered Religious Life: 15th September 1955
Died: 12th June 2025
Mary Philomena Fahy daughter of John and Kate Fahy was born in Castlequarter, Corrandulla, Co Galway on the 11th October 1935. She was the second child in a family of six. She entered the Religious Sisters of Charity in Milltown Dublin on the 15th September 1955. She was received as a novice on the 21st April 1956 taking the name of Sister Mary Alexis and was professed on the 22nd April 1958.
Following her profession in 1958 her first assignment was as receptionist at Milltown community. From the onset of her religious life, it was evident that Sr Alexis had a wonderful gift of working with people, she had a beautiful warm and friendly smile and a great sense of humour.
Over the next years sixty-four years Sr Alexis ministered in a number of communities, Milltown, Gardiner Street, Elm Park, Linden and Temple Street. In all these communities she was involved in catering and she excelled in that area. Those who lived with her looked forward to her delicious meals, including cakes and puddings. Sr Alexis was a gifted teacher and had no trouble in reaching out and sharing her skills with those she worked with.
Caritas Christi Urget Nos the motto of our Congregation was evident in her life in so many ways. She reached out with love, compassion and courtesy to community members, staff, family and all those who came in contact with her. Her generosity knew no bounds.
She was a woman of prayer and spent much time before the Blessed Sacrament and praying her rosary. The Sacred Heart Novena was a special time of prayer for Sr Alexis when she attended all the sessions.
Sr Alexis loved her family dearly and visited them frequently. They in turn enjoyed her visits very much and have fond memories of their time together. They recalled how much she loved music and when she went on holidays all the family would gather, take out some musical instruments, especially the tin whistle, and have a wonderful evening of music and song.
Having had health issues for some time, it became evident in 2022 that Sister needed extra care and she transferred to Beechlawn Nursing Home where she was professionally cared for and all the staff there enjoyed her sense of humour.
In expressing thanks to her friends at her Golden Jubilee celebration she used two of her favourite quotes – Ephesians ‘May he give you the power through his spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so the Christ may live in your hearts through faith’ and the second from Venerable Mary Aikenhead ‘Thanks to God’s ever blessed grace our vocation is to live for others and for futurity’. These quotes summed up her life which was lived in the service of others.
Sr. Alexis died peacefully in The Mater Hospital Dublin on the 12th June. May she now rest in God’s eternal peace. Her Funeral Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Sacred Heart Donnybrook. Sr. Alexis is buried in the community cemetery in Donnybrook where many sisters and family members gathered to receive her remains. May she rest in peace
.
