RIP Sr. Rosalie Bowles
Rosalie was born in Bishopstown on the 8th of September 1937, the second of four children. She was christened Elizabeth Mary, but soon became known as Maeve. In looking back she remembered with fondness a happy childhood filled with fun and lots of creative activity. Following Glasheen Primary School, she attended South Presentation Secondary. Her years there were interrupted by illness – which was to be a recurring factor in her life; but Maeve was already showing that gentle but determined independence of spirit and strength of will that were to be characteristic of her right to the end of her life. Instead, Maeve had been discerning a call to religious life; and when she applied for admission to Ardfoyle, her parents, again unhappy about her decision, got Father P.J. Kelly SMA to advise her to at least delay entering until she was older. She agreed; and finally entered on 6th September 1955, just prior to her 18th birthday.
Six months later, on being received into the Novitiate, Maeve was given the name of Mary Rosalie. Following First Profession in March 1958, she was sent to Rostrevor and then Dromantine, and in September 1960, she began nursing training in London. Completing her training in the face of further ill health and surgery, she made Final Profession in March 1964, and after a further year’s nursing training in Accident and Emergency in Leigh Hospital plus a Theatre Course in London, in October 1966 Rosalie began her mission work in Oke Offa, Ibadan, Nigeria.
During the last four years, since her diagnosis, one became more aware of Rosalie’s strong faith – a faith which no doubt has sustained her in living life to the full, in total self-giving, even through repeated illness. The courage and tenacity marking her entire life became more obvious in these final years. One got the impression, in asking about her health, that the cancer diagnosis was just an inconvenience, because, it “kept me on the periphery... unable to volunteer or get involved in anything, as one does not know what happens next.” Rather than counting down the days, to fit the time-limit in the experts’ prognosis, Rosalie continued to be active to the end – including her recent participation in a Women’s Mini-Marathon here in Cork.
Rosalie died peacefully in Marymount on Monday the of 16th March. Her funeral Mass was attended by a large crowd of old friends, all with warm memories of the ways in which Rosalie’s life had touched them. At her request the Mass was a celebration of God’s love in her life. No doubt it was this love which had given her such vibrancy and power for good wherever she was. The Communion hymn “Will You Let Me Be Your Servant” was a tribute to Rosalie’s eager, endless self-giving as experienced by her community. She is sorely missed. Of her we can truly say “Ní fheicimid a leithéid arís.” May the God whose love inspired and empowered her now reward her abundantly.
