1930-2025
Born: 12th August 1930
Entered Religious Life: 15th October 1951
Died: 7th January 2025
Sr Anne was born Gertrude Marie Rita Doran in Dublin in 1930, to parents Frances and Peter. Gertie as she was known to all the family, came to know the Sisters of Charity when she was about 7 years old, when she and her two older sisters went to Gym Classes in Marymount Hall in Harold’s Cross. Gertie knew that the Sisters of Charity had a heart for the poor and witnessed this later in her contact with Sister Joseph Xaveria in Basin Lane, in Dublin,
While it is customary among us to record our life’s story as a Religious Sister those who knew Anne, will know that she didn’t like any fuss – so her own story was short and to the point! However, Sr Anne Camillus lived a long life and served the Lord faithfully and generously as a Religious Sister of Charity for over 70 years in a number of ministries in many places in Ireland and England.
After leaving College, she worked for 3 years before entering Mount St Anne’s, Milltown in October 1951 age 21 years. After her profession, in 1954 Sr Anne Camillus, was missioned to Sowerby Bridge in Yorkshire, and began over 20 years of Parish Ministry, in Bristol, Hackney and Basildon. In 1978 Sr Anne Camillus was appointed Provincial Superior for the Province of England and Scotland and served for 9 years. She carried out this Ministry with great kindness and a warm welcome for everyone she encountered.
Sr Anne studied Counselling, Computer Studies, Clinical Pastoral Education and Bereavement Care and went on to spend another 15 years in Hospital and Hospice Chaplaincy. Following this, Anne enjoyed a well-earned Sabbatical in America. At the end of her Sabbatical, Anne was missioned to Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, and later back to St Joseph’s Hospice, as Director of Mission in 1995. Sr Anne Camillus served the Lord generously as a Religious Sister of Charity for over 74 years, 27 of which were in Local and Provincial Leadership roles.
In the first reading at her funeral Mass, which was from the Prophet Isaiah, we read: – ‘I have called you by your name, you are mine’. Gertie, heard the Lord call her name and she responded with great generosity and availability in all the seasons of her long life of almost 95 years.
Friends were important for Anne and she enjoyed meeting up whenever possible. In her later years, Anne loved reading the newspapers and recounting the stories she came across. She also found peace in just listening to Bird Song on her iPad.
As we know no tribute can ever encompass a life or express our love and loss. Gertie was a loved member of her family, a woman of faith and availability as a Religious Sister of Charity.
She was inspired by the charism of Venerable Mary Aikenhead and following in the footsteps of Christ, we believe Sr Anne is now in the loving embrace of her Lord. She died on 7th January 2025, in the loving care of the staff and Sisters in St Joseph’s Convent, Hackney.
May Anne Rest in Peace
