A great many people gathered in St Joseph’s chapel at Lochinvar for the Mass of Christian Burial for Sr Louise Marie McDonell on 24 October 2024. Louise was the last of ten children and was, according to one niece, the heart of the family. Nieces, nephews and cousins from her extended family came to pray for and celebrate her long life of love and service.
Pauline McDonell was born in 1926, the fifth child of John Joseph McDonell and Johanna Treacy. She grew up on the family farm on the Upper Lansdowne with her four brothers and five sisters. Her Lochinvar journey began at age eleven when she came to the boarding school following the death of her mother.
On leaving school, Pauline entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St Joseph at Lochinvar on 1 January 1942. She was given the name, Sr Louise Marie, the name she kept for her whole life.
After her profession as a Sister of St Joseph on 4 July 1945, she embarked on her long life of service in the dioceses of Maitland-Newcastle, Lismore and the archdiocese of Sydney as a primary school teacher and deputy principal mostly in mall communities.
To quote Sr Marie Hughes who delivered the Words of Remembrance, She understood that teaching was more than the three Rs, but rather establishing relationships that encouraged growth and learning.
Always a committed parishioner, Sr Louise became a Parish Pastoral Associate in later life, working in a number of parishes. Long years were spent in Muswellbrook and Forster-Tuncurry. Her gift for making friends and readiness to communicate brought new life to those she encountered.
Life changed for Sr Louise with the death of Sr Kathryn McCabe, her community companion in 2019. With her own health declining Sr Louise moved first to Lochinvar and then to Southern Cross Care at Caves Beach. It was there that she slipped very peacefully into eternal life on 11 October.
Father Kevin Corrigan, parish priest of Taree presided at the Mass of Christian Burial. He spoke of their close collaboration during the years when they ministered in the in the parish of Forster-Tuncurry.
The carefully chosen Scripture readings and hymns reflected Sr Louise’s generous and gracious nature. Hospitality was her special care. The reading from 2 Corinthians, God loves a cheerful giver reflected the way she approached life.
Following the Mass, the procession moved across the highway, through a guard of honour formed by the Year 11 students to the parish cemetery. There Sr Louise Marie McDonell was laid to rest in the Sisters’ section where she with all her Sisters await the Resurrection.