
1931-2024
Born: 14th December 1931
Entered Religious Life: 13th July 1959
Died: 8th November 2024
Sister Teresa was born in Templetuohy Co. Tipperary on the 14th December 1931 to Patrick and Catherine Murphy. She had one brother and two sisters all who predeceased her.
She entered the Religious Sisters of Charity on the 13th July 1959 and was received into the Novitiate on the 22nd January 1960 taking the name Sr. Joseph Matthew. She was professed on the 2nd May 1962.
Teresa was a trained Auxiliary nurse before she entered. Following her Profession Teresa ministered in a variety of houses in Ireland, Harold’s Cross, Cappagh and St. Vincent’s in Dublin. At St. Vincent’s Teresa upgraded her nurses training. Teresa also spent a short time in England training in Orthopaedics.
In 1970 Teresa was missioned to our overseas mission in Zambia, where she spent the next 29 years of her religious life in two communities. In Ndola, she ministered at the Arthur Davidson children’s hospital where it was said that she was a strict but fair and much-loved sister in charge. She also served as local leader in the community for nine years. Teresa was an outstanding and gifted nurse. She spent twenty-one years in Ndola.
In 1991 Teresa transferred to the community in Kabwata where she was Regional Bursar and Local leader. In January 2000 she returned to Ireland and took a sabbatical year.
In 2021 Teresa moved to Ard Mhuire community, where she volunteered and visited many of the patients in the Hospice. In September 2002 Teresa was missioned to Lakelands where she served as Local leader and was a lovely and cheerful presence in the community. When she completed her term of office Teresa joined the community in Temple Street where she took care of the needs of the elderly sisters looking after their hospital appointments and medications.
As Teresa’s health began to fail, she spent a short time in St. Monica’s nursing home. When St Monica’s closed she spent a few months in St. Gabriel’s Nursing Home, Raheny before transferring to Marian House Nursing Home where she endeared herself to the staff and residents.
Throughout her Religious life Teresa lived out the Motto of the Congregation, “Caritas Christi Urget Nos” the Charity of Christ urges us on. In the spirit of our foundress Mary Aikenhead, she touched the lives of many people by reaching out to those most in need. Teresa will be remembered for her warm, caring and compassionate nature. She was blessed with a wonderful sense of humour, an infectious laugh and a beautiful welcoming smile. Her death on Friday 8th November was peaceful and without pain she just quietly slipped away. A saying of Mother Teresa of Calcutta “it is not always how much we give it is how much love we put into giving” sums up Teresa’s life.
Her funeral Mass was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, Donnybrook and she was buried in the community cemetery in Donnybrook.
May Teresa now rest in God’s peace.