RIP Sr. Ligouri Smiddy

Sr. Ligouri passed away on October 27th, 2016. She devoted her entire life to missionary work in Nigeria and Ireland. Below are some thoughts shared by Sr. Kathleen McGarvey, Provincial Leader, OLA - Irish Province, at Sr. Ligouri's funeral. May she rest in peace.

Sr. Ligouri Smiddy

1925 - 2016

Good afternoon and welcome. A special word of welcome to Sr Ligouri’s family: her sister Nora and brother Br Cathal, her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, in-laws, and the many other relatives and friends who are gathered from near and far. Sr Ligouri was the eldest of a family of eight, four girls and four boys, so this morning we remember also those who have gone before us that today they may rejoice to be reunited in heaven. We remember in a very special way Ligouri’s brother Tim, who was called to God at nearly the same time as Ligouri herself and who was buried yesterday. So much death together is not easy on the family and we ask God to give you the strength you need. We pray that Tim and Sr. Ligouri may walk through the gates of heaven together and enter joyfully to their eternal rest. Failte to the Christian Brothers and all the other religious here present, to the OLA Sisters who have come from other communities in Ireland and beyond, and to the SMA Fathers who, as always, are here in communion with us.

We all know the words from Ecclesiastes: “There is a time for everything, a time for mourning, a time for dancing”. Just seven months ago, we marked the seventieth anniversary of Sr. Ligouri’s religious profession. Today we mark the end of her earthly journey. While we mourn because a very dear Sister, Aunt, friend, has left us, we also dance because Sr Ligouri was blessed with a long and fruitful life and we believe she is now at peace in the presence of God.

Sr Ligouri was born at Garryoughtra, Mogeely, Cork, in 1925 and baptised Ellen. At the age of 18, having completed her secondary education at Presentation Convent, Midleton, she wrote to Ardfoyle saying she wanted to live her life as a missionary. She said she had wanted to enter even as a child but her parents wouldn’t allow it. In her letter of application, written way back in 1943, she said she wanted to bring the message of Christ’s Gospel to parts of the world where it had not yet reached and she felt especially called to Africa. On the 8th March 1946, she made her First Profession, and from that day on she lived as a totally committed Sister of Our Lady of Apostles, right to the midnight of last Thursday when she was called home to God.

Ligouri was a woman who loved life in all its forms; she loved the social life around her, and was an active member in all that was going on; she loved the countryside, she loved nature; she loved to travel; she loved to try new things. And she loved and was committed to the life she chose as a religious missionary. Her commitment rested on a solid spirituality that was nurtured by her deep but quiet and unostentatious prayer-life.

She spent the first ten years of her religious life in missionary service here in Ireland – with the SMAs in Blackrock and Wilton, and also briefly in Ardfoyle. Then five years of nursing and midwifery training in Cork and in London. And finally, in 1961, Liguori was on her way to Africa. Her first assignment was to Abeokuta and for a brief while in Ijebu-Igbo. Towards the end of 1965 she returned to England for further up-skilling in nursing care in Lambeth and in Middlesex. She returned to Nigeria in 1967, and worked as a nurse, midwife and administrator in many parts of the country: in Akwanga and Jos; in Oke Offa, Ibadan; in Bacita; in the clinic in Yaba; in Zawan; once again in Abeokuta (from 1995 to 1999) and finally in Agbor (from 1999 to 2001).

Her years in Africa, all in Nigeria, allowed Liguori to bring care and healing to the lives of many people in very different settings, in big hospitals, in small clinics, in leper settlements, in urban areas and in rural areas. I’m told that in her service of the sick, wherever she worked, she was tireless and totally devoted.

She returned to Ireland in 2001, and spent a few years in our home for the elderly in Castlemacgarrett. Her enthusiasm for life and her simple and deep spirituality brought joy and comfort to the residents and to the community there.

Her last years were spent here in Ardfoyle where she was a very lively community member up to just a few weeks ago. She seemed to have endless energy. She loved music, art and gardening, loved to travel, loved adventure. She went swimming with myself down in Lavannah. She grew tomatoes in the glass houses. I believe she even learnt yoga. Of course she loved her family, and was so happy and proud to have travelled to the wedding in Gibraltar at the age of ninety! Anything new, Ligouri loved to try it.

It was with great reluctance that she agreed to move into St Raphael’s, our Infirmary just a few weeks ago. Over these past few weeks, she got weaker quite quickly, and at midnight on Thursday, she said another “Yes” to God, and went home with Tim. May she continue to live life to the full in the presence of the Lord.

I thank the Sisters and staff here in Ardfoyle, both in the Infirmary and in the community, who cared for Sr Ligouri especially during these latter weeks. To Sr Ligouri’s family and friends, thank you for having supported her during her missionary life and for being faithful to her until the end. May God grant you the consolation you need at this time. Thanks to the Sisters in the choir and all involved in today’s liturgy and to the SMA Fathers for their friendship and support at all times. I hand you over to Fr John Horgan SMA, to lead us in prayer as we entrust Sr. Ligouri back to God.

Sr. Ligouri (pictured second from right) during her jubilee celebrations in Ardfoyle last March when she marked 70 years of service.