Sr M Martina Luney

Died 29 June 1946

 

Ellen Luney was born to John Luney, a blacksmith and Brigid Hoare in Dungog on 8 February 1870. There were ten children in the family. She entered Lochinvar on the 19 April 1891 taking the name of Sister Mary Martina of the Patronage of St Joseph and was professed on 30 January 1894. Her younger sister, Margaret entered the Congregation two years later and was known as Sister Mary Genevieve.

Sister Mary Martina ministered in Brookfield, Largs, Cessnock, Carrington, Aberdeen, Glendonbrook, Wingen, Kurri Kurri, and Dungog.  She spent the last few months of her life at Lochinvar in the care of the Sisters.

Sister Mary Martina Luney was not so well known to the outside world nevertheless she had many friends in the various districts where she spent her life.  As the successful preacher knows, so also the successful teacher knows that much of the success is due to the prayers and the unseen self-sacrifice of those whose lot is hidden. One of the Sisters recalling Sister Mary Martina’s life said, "Despite her cross of deafness, she was an example of quiet prayerfulness and kindness to people, while her gratitude to lay people for their generosity to our early Sisters, made her dear to all who knew her " (From The Lochinvar Diary of 29/6/46).

Sister Mary Martina passed away peacefully surrounded by her Sisters in religion on Saturday, 29 June in the early morning. She was buried on Sunday afternoon in the Sisters’ section of the Lochinvar cemetery. Father Ward read the prayers at the grave. On Wednesday 10 July Solemn Office and Requiem Mass was sung in Chapel. Most Rev Dr Gleeson CSsR presided and twenty-five priests took part. Father Newton sang the Mass assisted by Fathers M Bourke and J Burke (Deacon and Sub-deacon). Cantors were Fathers Flatley and Coffey.               

Taken from the Lochinvar Diary of 29/6/46