Missions Sisters of 55 years goes to God

By Glynnis Grainger
Our Lady of the Missions Sister Elizabeth Stokes passed away peacefully on 4 September, aged 75, at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands.

She had been a nun for 55 years: her gentle and compassionate spirit touched many and her musical gifts were a blessing to students and choirs alike.
Her Requiem Mass was celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, Highgate on 8 September which would have been her anniversary of membership of the RNDM Congregation.
Sr Madeleine Barlow and Sr Elizabeth’s sisters, Lee Newman and Liz Sanzone, delivered eulogies at the funeral Mass.
Sr Mary Elizabeth was born on 11 November 1935, the first born of Mavis and George Stokes and was named Janet Mary.
Her parents went on to have a further eight children, including one stillborn son and twins.
Her mother was one of five sisters, most of them musicians, and singalongs around the family piano, with her mother and grandfather accompanying on the violin, were commonplace in their West Leederville home.
Sr Elizabeth inherited this passion for music and singing and took piano lessons from the nuns at an early age. 
When the War was on, the family transferred to Wagin where, at the age of 10, she made her First Holy Communion and announced that she wanted to be a nun.
Aged 14, she left school and continued to mention entering the convent.  Her parents made an agreement with her that she must first work for two years before making her final decision. 
She worked for the Government Print, near St Mary’s Cathedral, where she attended extra Masses during her lunch break.
Then, after two years, she announced that her time at the office was done and she was ready to enter the convent of Our Lady of the Mission, which she did in 1952.
At the convent, she continued her studies with the piano and later violin, progressing well through all her exams to become a fully qualified music teacher, teaching since 1956.
Sr Elizabeth’s work involved teaching music and playing regularly for the Sunday community Masses, her music ministry being a gift to all. She particularly loved playing for the big events such as Christmas and Easter ceremonies, and at many weddings and funerals, First Communions and Confirmations.  Above all else, she loved being a nun.
She also enjoyed being involved with the Julian Singers and Italian Choir, a big part of her life.
Since 1988, she was recognised as a Highgate identity, often seen walking to visit local people with the Eucharist – the old, the sick, the lonely and the shut-ins.
In a little house in Mary Street, she and Sr Patricia Byrne – her companion of 10 years – prepared meals and served them to the homeless who turned up on the doorstep.  She also joined Sr Pat enthusiastically in her ministry with the Vietnamese people.
Sr Elizabeth spent her last months at Margaret Hubery House, Shelley.