1929-2025
Born: 16th February 1929
Entered Religious Life: 9th February 1948
Died: 12th January 2025
Marie Ethna Madden was born in Skerries Co Dublin, 1929, the second of four children and only daughter to loving parents Katherine and Thomas. On leaving school, Marie entered Mount St Anne’s, Milltown in 1948. She was drawn to religious life because of the prayerful spirit in her own home and by visiting her aunt Sr Teresa Carmella Bermingham, who was a Sister of Charity, Nursing in St Vincent’s Hospital and the Hospice in Harold’s Cross, Dublin.
Soon after Profession, Sr Marie was missioned initially to England and later to California. Marie spent more than 30 years of her religious life in the ministry of Education, which took her to Walthamstow, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Birkenhead, Hackney and to Basildon as Principal. Marie was missioned to California in 1970 where she taught in Los Alamitos, Van Nuys and Marycrest.
Sr Marie pursued her own educational development over her life studying in England, France and California, gaining a BA and MA and was also fluent in French. Marie enjoyed a Sabbatical in Spokane, Washington 1989.
In 1990, Marie began a new career in Prison Chaplaincy in HMP Styal for women in Cheshire which continued until her retirement in 2008. Sr Marie was a gentle soul, who only saw good in people. While these characteristics would not appear on a job spec for prison staff, it allowed Sr Marie to listen with patience, unconditional love and openness to any woman in distress. As each woman told her story, it just convinced Sister that each one was undoubtedly innocent!
Sr. Marie went to live in the Hackney London, in 2008 and soon became a gentle inspiring presence around the Hospice where she is remembered by many for her kindness and simple words of wisdom often shared when people needed them most. Sr Marie had a most beautiful smile and was probably unaware of the effect that she had on others.
Marie was indeed a loved member of her family, a woman of faith, generosity and joy as a Religious Sister of Charity. Sr Marie would constantly remind all, of the words of the prophet Micah: ‘What does the LORD ask of you, to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God’. Marie lived out these words in her own life, by quietly serving Christ with love and joy, in those she encountered for over 70 years.
Sr Marie, inspired by the spirit of prayer within her family home and the charism of Venerable Mary Aikenhead, followed in the footsteps of Christ. She died on 12th January 2025, in the loving care of the staff and Sisters in St Joseph’s Convent, Hackney.
May Sr Marie now Rest in Peace.
