Figure 13 - Image of Sister M Etheldreda
Sister M Etheldreda was born in Hamilton, Victoria on 28th July 1906 as Mary Agnes Boyle. She was the eldest daughter of John Boyle and Edith Marr who had both lived in Victoria and converted to Catholicism prior to their marriage. They had three other children Eileen Being raised in this faithful Catholic family established her lifelong relationship with God. Mary Boyle was educated at Loreto Sisters at St Michael's College in Hamilton, Victoria. In 1924, just before Mary turned 18 years old, the Good Samaritan Sisters arrived in Hamilton to take over the college. This was the first time Mary was given an insight to the sisters' work and this had significant influence on her learning and faith.
On the 15th of June 1928, she entered the Good Samaritan Novitiate at Pennant Hills and was given her religious name, Sister Mary Etheldreda. She had two sisters, Edith and Kathleen, who also became Good Samaritan Sisters. She attained her first profession on January 8th, 1931. Sister Etheldreda trained to become a teacher at St James School, Forest Lodge. Following the death of Sister Sebastian in 1933, Etheldreda was sent to Victoria and taught as Principal at North Fitzroy, Kerang and Korumburra. Sister spent two years at Crystal Brook in South Australia until returning to Crossley, Victoria, in 1941.
She was one of the six Good Samaritan Sisters chosen to go to Nagasaki in the post WW2 period. She took on the role of preparing meals however, found it the most difficult to adjust to the new language and culture because of her older age. After a year of helping people in Nagasaki, Sister Etheldreda was advised to return home to Australia because of her developing arthritis.
Sister Etheldra was appointed to Korumburra in 1950 and then continued to teach in Crystal Brook, South Australia as principal; as well as Seacombe Gardens, Gawler and Port Pirie where she stayed from 1971 to 1989. From 1989 to early 1991, Sister Etheldra returned to the name of Sister Mary and welcomed retirement at Whyalla Stuart, South Australia.
On the 26th March 1992 Sister Mary moved to the Marian House in Northcote. She died on 2nd March 1994 aged 87 years, having lived 66 years of a religious life. She was buried at the Fawkner Cemetery and will forever be remembered for the good work she completed in her lifetime and as a much-loved member in the parish and wider community.
On the 15th of June 1928, she entered the Good Samaritan Novitiate at Pennant Hills and was given her religious name, Sister Mary Etheldreda. She had two sisters, Edith and Kathleen, who also became Good Samaritan Sisters. She attained her first profession on January 8th, 1931. Sister Etheldreda trained to become a teacher at St James School, Forest Lodge. Following the death of Sister Sebastian in 1933, Etheldreda was sent to Victoria and taught as Principal at North Fitzroy, Kerang and Korumburra. Sister spent two years at Crystal Brook in South Australia until returning to Crossley, Victoria, in 1941.
She was one of the six Good Samaritan Sisters chosen to go to Nagasaki in the post WW2 period. She took on the role of preparing meals however, found it the most difficult to adjust to the new language and culture because of her older age. After a year of helping people in Nagasaki, Sister Etheldreda was advised to return home to Australia because of her developing arthritis.
Sister Etheldra was appointed to Korumburra in 1950 and then continued to teach in Crystal Brook, South Australia as principal; as well as Seacombe Gardens, Gawler and Port Pirie where she stayed from 1971 to 1989. From 1989 to early 1991, Sister Etheldra returned to the name of Sister Mary and welcomed retirement at Whyalla Stuart, South Australia.
On the 26th March 1992 Sister Mary moved to the Marian House in Northcote. She died on 2nd March 1994 aged 87 years, having lived 66 years of a religious life. She was buried at the Fawkner Cemetery and will forever be remembered for the good work she completed in her lifetime and as a much-loved member in the parish and wider community.