Josephite Sr Elizabeth Murphy, who died on July 20, was a teacher par excellence who reached the top of her profession and also worked with the Order in Peru.
She was 88.
Known to her family as Mary, she was born on July 4, 1924, the eldest of six children of Frank and Phyllis Murphy, and was educated in her primary years at Highgate with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart.
When the family moved to South Perth, she commenced secondary education with the Josephites, entering the Order of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart at the age of 15.
Her father, a self-educated chartered accountant, had ambitions for Mary to study medicine, but being deeply Catholic, her parents welcomed her decision with pride and thanksgiving.
Sr Elizabeth’s funeral Mass was held on Friday, July 27, at St Columba’s Church, South Perth, celebrated by Mgr Brian O’Loughlin, with about 250 people present, and her sister, Pauline Smith, delivered the eulogy.
Sr Elizabeth entered religious life in the company of Dorina Bianchini on December 8, 1939, and was professed on January 6, 1942.
Her sister said in her eulogy that “Elizabeth lived a long and deeply satisfying life and her achievements were a natural outcome of the environment in which she was nurtured.”
She was deeply Australian in her nature and outlook and loved the eucalyptus and all Australian flora, especially WA wildflowers, Australian poets and artists.
Our beaches were a source of joy not just for her love of swimming but as a meditative experience of God.
She loved youth and believed passionately in the right of every child to pursue an education to the fullest and empathised with country parents in their desire and efforts to send their children on to secondary and tertiary education.
When she emerged from a Chapter as the Superior-General, she plunged into the office with enthusiasm, and led the Order at a time when the winds of change were still blowing through the Church.
The new-look apparel of the nuns was but an external sign of the depth of the challenges that Pope John XXIII had set his followers.
She was elected Head of the Council of National Superiors-General, a Council consisting of all the Orders of Priests, Nuns and Brothers.
The Josephites set up a Mission in Peru in 1981 and Sr Elizabeth sought permission to join them when she stepped down from office.
She spent an interim period of two years on the motor mission of South-West of WA, all the time determinedly learning Spanish and finally set forth for Lima in 1992.
She spent 10 years in Lima and described it as the high point in her life, developing a huge love and respect for the Peruvians.
Sr Elizabeth would have remained there until recalled but for a motor vehicle accident which resulted in her return to WA.
It was suggested that she write a history of St Gertrude’s College, New Norcia, where she had taught for 17 years and around this time she was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Law for her contribution to education from the University of Notre Dame in WA.
Now ensconced in South Perth, she embarked on the research for her book, ably assisted by some devoted old girls of the College, and the editorial assistance of Sr Ann Carter of Loreto.
Sr Elizabeth’s final years were spent among fellow retirees at the Convent in South Perth, where the love and companionship of those around her give her siblings much solace.
She always delighted in her nephews and nieces and was a family confidante, a source of wonder and continual amazement, telling stories of her adventures both overseas and around Australia.
We utter a fervent Deo Gratias for her life.