By Glynnis Grainger
DOMINICAN Sister Mary Michael Ryan passed away peacefully at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Glendalough on 25 October, aged 88.
Her Requiem Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Woodlands on 29 October.
One of seven children, she was born Patricia Ryan in the goldmining town of Meekatharra in the Geraldton diocese.
Her older sister Annie, who became Dominican Sr Mary Xavier, was educated at Dominican Ladies College, Dongara and Patricia also became a boarder at the college.
Later on, Patricia was received into the Congregation also and given the name Sr Mary Michael, a much-loved member of the Congregation, a woman of prayer and practical generosity.
Her story has a place in the history of the remote mining towns of Leonora and Gwalia, and at different times she taught in schools at Dongara, Mingenew, Yalgoo, Cue and Three Springs and in Perth at Scarborough.
She studied for the Nursing Aide Certificate and, in 1975, after practical experience in several Government hospitals, she obtained a certificate that qualified her to work in geriatric nursing at St Catherine’s Dominican Convent, Doubleview.
In her later years, she worked with the St Vincent de Paul Society, work she loved, and her spirit of prayer and love of Mary the Mother of God led her into the Legion of Mary.
Both had the goal of the spiritual and temporal welfare of people, which made total sense to Sr Michael, with her natural graced kindness.
The last six months of her life were spent at the nursing home of the Little Sisters of the Poor at Glendalough where she was cared for with unfailing kindness by the Sisters and their staff.
Her niece, Marie, visited her regularly and brought great joy to Sr Michael’s closing years.
To Marie, Sr Michael was always Aunty Pat, whom she loved and cared for with enormous generosity, taking fresh flowers and treats to her.
Her Dominican Sisters visited her almost daily and were on call when special needs arose.
They remember her with great respect and love and pray for her that she may rest in peace.