Sr Geraldine O’Connor
1942 – 2024
Born: 1st June 1942
Entered: 10th July 1961
Died: 17th January 2024
Geraldine was born in Wexford on the 1st of June 1942, to parents Kathleen and Michael. She was the third child of a family of five.
On July 10th 1961, aged 19 Geraldine entered the Noviciate of the Religious Sisters of Charity, Mount St Anne’s. Milltown. After profession of Vows on the 20th January 1964, Geraldine spent a year in Airdrie Scotland, before beginning her Nursing Training in St Vincent’s Hospital, St. Stephen’s Green.
In 1969, Geraldine began her Ministry of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospice as a Ward Sister, and returned to the Hospice on four different occasions, a total of 18 years. Geraldine also spent time back in St. Vincent’s Hospital, and Temple St, Hospital, for her Children’s Nurse Training, then on to Bath, Acton, Chiswick and back to Hackney in 2014 where Geraldine served as Matron for over 5 years until 1999.
As a Ward Sister, Geraldine could be found on a Saturday mopping and hoovering around her ward. Geraldine had a generous spirit and an eye for detail, and she could spot something out of place at a 100 yards!
Geraldine could not abide any kind of waste, and many will remember feeling their way along a dark corridor when the lights had suddenly gone off!
Geraldine really enjoyed her Sabbatical in 1999 which also included 3 months in Australia spending time with our Australian, Religious Sisters of Charity.
On her return in 2000, Geraldine was appointed Provincial Bursar and lived in Acton and Chiswick before returning to Hackney in November 2013.
The family shared some memories of their Auntie Geraldine, who was a fast driver and would borrow Grandad’s car and take them up Mount Leinster for picnic or a drive! They also remember Auntie Geraldine as adventurous and when it came to swimming in the sea, she would be first in the water regardless of how cold it was!
Geraldine loved the beauty and the colours of nature and enjoyed long walks and hikes while others struggled to keep up! She was a quiet woman of faith and one of her very special places was Kew Gardens, London, where she would visit often.
In her later years Geraldine served as a Trustee and Board Director at both at St Joseph’s and St Andrew’s Hospices, until her sudden illness in 2019.
To our great sadness, Geraldine had a stroke while attending the Annual Bursars’ Conference in 2019. In a moment, her life was changed and became limited, but all who knew Geraldine, were inspired by her calm acceptance of this new situation. In her own time, she set out a new timetable and found peace and joy in simple things like sitting in the Convent Garden, music, doing jigsaws and her prayer time.
Geraldine was a loved member of a family, a woman of faith, a Religious Sister of Charity, a dedicated Nurse, inspired by the charism of Mary Aikenhead and following in the footsteps of Christ.
Geraldine died peacefully on the 17th January 2024. Her Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph’s Hospice Chapel on the 7th February followed by burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Leytonstone.
May Geraldine now Rest in Peace, Amen.
