RIP Sr. Fidelma Caffrey

Sr. Fidelma was called home to God on December 21st. Sr. Kathleen Mc Garvey, OLA Provincial Leader reflected on Sr. Fidelma's life during her funeral mass. Sr. Kathleen's address follows below.

Sr. Fidelma Caffrey

Good afternoon and welcome. We are gathered here today to thank God for the long and fruitful life of Sr Fidelma Caffrey, our Sister, our aunt and our friend, and to bid her farewell. We entrust her to God as she goes to her final resting place to join her parents, her two sisters Ana Marie and Julie Mary, and the other deceased members of her family, friends and OLA Sisters. A special word of welcome today to Sr Fidelma’s brother Frank and his wife Breda; we remember her other brother Pat and his wife Josephine who cannot be with us but are surely here in prayer. Failte to her nieces Isault and Judith, and any other friends who are here with us today. Failte to the OLA Sisters, especially those who have come from other communities in Ireland and to the SMA Fathers who, as always, are here to celebrate with us.

Sr Fidelma, baptised Katherine and known at home as Kitty, was born in Mayo. After secondary school she considered entering here in Ardfoyle, wrote to apply in 1946, but didn’t feel sure of where her vocation lay so she decided to wait another year before applying again. I think that itself speaks of the deep, intelligent, discerning thinker that Sr Fidelma has always been. She taught in a primary school for a year and then in October 1947, at the age of nineteen, she entered Ardfoyle. At this early stage in her life she was also awarded the ALCM diploma: Associate of the London College of Music.

In 1950, sixty six years ago, she made her first profession and consecrated her life to the service of God’s kingdom especially in Africa. She spent the first six years after Profession studying in UCC to qualify as a medical doctor in 1956; then spent nine years working as a medical officer in various hospitals in Nigeria, doing locum in Abeokuta, Kaduna, Akwanga, Oke Offa, Ijebu Igbo, Benin… In typical witty Fidelma-style, she herself describes this moving from place to place as “I was thrown around like snuff at a wake!”  And then I’m sure she would giggle!

In 1965 she returned to studies: first did a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Liverpool and then went on to specialise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Royal College in London, where she was later awarded a Fellowship.  In 1968 she returned to Northern Nigeria and apart from two years working in the OLA-run hospital in Bacita, she worked for over twenty years in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, both in the Faculty of Medicine and in the ABU Hospital Kaduna; as registrar, lecturer, senior lecturer and Consultant. I am told that her contribution to both teaching and medical practice was invaluable. She was reputed then and is still remembered today, particularly in Nigeria, for her excellence and diligence in the field of gynaecology and obstetrics as well as for her beautiful, genuine, jovial character and for her kindness to patients and staff. The Provincial leader of Nigeria, in a letter of condolence, has written that the Sisters are thankful for Sr Fidelma’s years of service in Nigeria where in her gentleness, humility and love she extended the healing hands of Christ and left indelible memories on the hearts of many.

Sr Fidelma left Nigeria in 1989 and went to work in Lancaster, first in a hospice there and then in the parish, helping as assistant chaplain in the prison, helping in a homeless shelter, teaching music, and so on. A sister who lived with her there recalls that her lifestyle was a testimony of a true missionary: even in the UK she sought out the poor and marginalised, attended to them, and these were her friends.

In 1997 she returned to Ireland and worked here in the Infirmary for a few years. Up until recently she was a helpful, gentle, cheery presence in Ardfoyle community, making her own way up and down the corridor and into the chapel and about the tea room, distributing the Tablet and other magazines and doing her crosswords, and she only moved to the Infirmary a few short months ago when this move became very necessary. Just as she was and is missed in Nigeria and Lancaster, so too her brilliant and deep mind, her gentle spirit, her sweet singing voice, her witty remarks, her cheerful laugh, all will be very much missed here among us.

Sr Fidelma was very well qualified and acclaimed as a medical doctor in her day but she hardly made any fuss about it; she was a humble, simple, frugal woman all her life. Just as she lived with no fuss, so too she slipped quietly away, with no fuss, on Wednesday night. As we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace on earth this Christmas, we pray that Fidelma may know in Heaven that Peace in a deep and everlasting way.

I take this opportunity to thank very sincerely Sr Katherine, Dolores and all the Sisters and staff here in Ardfoyle for your love, commitment and faith.  Our thanks also to Sr Fidelma’s family. May God grant you the consolation you need. Sincere thanks to the SMAs, our brothers on whom we rely so greatly and who are always there for us. From her place in God’s presence, may Sr Fidelma help each one of you and send you strength in your times of need.

I now hand you over to Fr Eddie O’Connor, SMA Superior in Blackrock Rd., to lead us in our Eucharist.  Go raibh mile maith agaibh.

Sr. Kathleen McGarvey, OLA

Provincial Leader