Irish-born Sr Carmel was a late vocation

by NZ CATHOLIC staff
AUCKLAND — Irish-born Sr Carmel Mary Corcoran, RSM, died in Auckland on June 23 aged 101.
Her funeral Mass was celebrated by Msgr Bernard Kiely on June 26.

Sr Carmel Mary Corcoran

Margaret Joseph Corcoran was born on September 2, 1912, in Galway. She was always known
to her family as Daisy.
Margaret had six brothers and a sister. She spent a lot of time with her Aunt Nora and Uncle Pat so she could be company for their daughter, Josephine, who was more like a sister than a cousin.
She went to Glasnevin to the Holy Faith Sisters with Josephine as a boarder for secondary schooling. She was Josephine’s bridesmaid in 1942.
Margaret trained as a general nurse in the Mater Hospital in Dublin, registering in 1934. She was a regular visitor to Josephine. During one trip Josephine went into early labour and Carmel had to deliver the twins, John and Dermot.
In 1954 a nurse was needed to accompany Mother Genevieve to New Zealand following a recruiting
drive. Margaret decided to accompany her as her nurse for the flight on February 12, 1954, and enter the Sisters of Mercy in New Zealand.
Margaret was described as a middle-
aged woman, glamorous in her
high heels and elegant clothes. She
entered from the Brownes, where
she had stayed until entering on
March 17, 1954.
She made her
reception: September
8, 1954,
her first profession
on January 5,
1957, and her final
profession on
January 5, 1960.
Margaret, now
Sr Carmel, worked
mainly at the Mater
Hospital, but
was a foundation
community member
of St Mary’s
Hospital at Onerahi.
She kept in
touch with many friends and colleagues
from Mater days. In later
years she also was very fond of all
her caregivers in St Catherine’s Rest
Home, especially Sandra, the CEO.
Her motto was: Caritas Christi
urget me — The love of Christ is
life to me.
At her funeral Mass, the Sisters
of Mercy Leadership Team gave the
welcome, and the eulogy was delivered
by Sr Monica Costello.
Sr Carmel was buried in Waikaraka
Cemetery, in Onehunga. May she
rest in peace.

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