1932-2024
Born: 18th September 1932
Entered Religious Life: 11th July 1960
Died: 26th December 2024
Eileen Crispie, daughter of Thomas and Mary Crispie, (nee Deasy), was born in Clonakilty, Cork, on 18th September 1932. Eileen was the fourth child in a family of three boys and two girls. Her father was a farmer and Eileen often talked about the carefree childhood she enjoyed growing up on the farm. She qualified as a Primary School teacher in Carysfort Teacher Training College in 1954 and began her teaching career in Ballyfermot Primary School in Dublin.
On 11th July 1960 Eileen entered the Religious Sisters of Charity and was received as a Novice on 31st January 1961, taking the name Sr. Teresa Gabriel. She made her First Profession on 1st February 1963 and following her Profession was missioned to Walkinstown Primary School for a short period. Between 1963 and 1969 she spent time teaching in Clarinbridge, Clonmel and Ballaghaderreen. On 31st December 1969 she was missioned to Basin Lane where she taught in the school for 17 years until September 1986. During that time she cooked for the Community at weekends. It was there, she said, she developed a love for culinary skills. She was instrumental in founding two junior Praesidia of the Legion of Mary in Basin Lane in 1980. An intermediate praesidium for young people over 14 years of age began in 1982 with meetings held in Benedicta House. Sr. Gabriel was Spiritual Director of both groups’.
When she resigned from teaching in 1986, Sr. Teresa Gabriel enrolled for a year’s Pastoral Ministry Course in the Institute of Adult Education, Mountjoy Street, and was based in Temple Street Community. At the end of 1987 she was missioned to Milltown to do outreach work for the Travellers who were attending St. Anne’s School in Milltown. In 1993 when the school was being phased out, she volunteered to supply for the cook in the Convent kitchen. Here her culinary skills extended further and she experimented with all kinds of dishes, whether the Community appreciated them or not! In September 1995 when Milltown Convent closed, Sr. Gabriel was missioned to Lakelands Community and to catering in Caritas. Here she thrived for 18 years, enjoying the cooking for the Community and the General Leadership Team and received with delight any visitors that were in need of a midday meal! In March 2012 Sr. Gabriel reduced her time in Caritas to two days per week and retired from Caritas in July 2013. In the evenings she was Spiritual Director to the Praesidia in Clonskeagh and Harrington Street and Spiritual Director to a Patrician Legion of Mary discussion group in Sandymount. Members of the Legion loved her, appreciating all she did for them. She gave much time and effort on her free evenings to prepare for weekly ‘allocutios’. Sr. Gabriel was always sure of a lift home to Lakelands by her loyal friends after the Legion meetings. She attended the annual Legion of Mary Pilgrimage to Knock each year and also loved to visit other shrines. Not surprisingly, some of her summer holidays were spent each year volunteering for Peregrinatio Pro Christo abroad. She had a great devotion to Alfie Lambe, a Legion Envoy, whom she claimed had cured a health issue and she did her best afterwards to promote his Cause.
As her health began to deteriorate Sr. Gabriel was unable to continue her ministry to the Legion of Mary. However, many of her loyal friends from these groups visited her regularly and attended her Golden Jubilee and 90th birthday celebrations in Lakelands. She loved these celebrations and any opportunity she got to tell visitors and community stories of her childhood and other amusing times in her life. The fact that she repeated them often added to the enjoyment of her stories! She caused many a debate in community life, always defending the underdog and seeing the potential for good in everyone, often going so far as to defend the indefensible!
When the phone rang from Beechlawn Nursing Home early on St. Stephen’s morning, 26th December 2024, we were shocked and saddened to hear Sr. Teresa Gabriel had died unexpectantly when a Healthcare Assistant left her room. It was the way she would have chosen to leave us and we were glad for her sake that the Lord called her at this special time of Christmas. Her Requiem Mass was held in Sandymount Church and attended by many of her friends from the Legion of Mary as well as her family members who were so faithful to her during her long and generous life. Sr. Teresa Gabriel is buried in Donnybrook Cemetery.
May she rest in peace.
