Darina McGoldrick

Deceased Sisters

Darina McGoldrick - United Kingdom
18/03/1937 - 18/10/2021

Sr Darina was born in Dromahair, Leitrim, Ireland to Mr and Mrs McGoldrick. There were five children in the family and Sr Darina was the eldest. She attended the local National School in Dromahair and went as a boarder for her Secondary Education to the Marist Secondary School in Tubbercurry. Sr Darina's parents had a grocery business where she enjoyed helping in the shop during the school holidays. She was a very purposeful child who wanted to take responsibility for the siblings in her family. She enjoyed helping her parents in the shop, for example, when her Dad lined up the boxes for the customers’ hampers, she put the items in each box from a list her had given her. This she said gave her great joy - to be able to do something constructive to help her parents and to bring joy, especially to deserving families.

Sr Darina’s love of Our Lady and her desire to give herself totally to God, so as to help others, led her to enter the Marist Novitiate on the feast of Our Lady, September 24^th1956. She was received as a Novice a year later and made her First Profession in August 1958. She made her Final Profession in 1963 and then joined the Sunninghill Community as a student while she did her Teacher Training Course at La Sainte Union College Southampton.

From there on Sr Darina began to realise her dream of doing good for others. Her teaching career gave her a wonderful opportunity to reach out to parents. She was in easy reach of them from her school and community. She proved herself as a very caring person wherever she served, winning the respect of all who came in contact with her. As well as keeping constantly updated in her teaching career, she enjoyed above all her Spiritual Renewals and little retreats, finally becoming Head Mistress in St Michael’s Primary School. Having given of her best, Sr Darina reached out for more adventure - not for herself, but for so many in the Parish who requested her help in acquiring wholeness and well-being. This was a Course in Kinesiology which led her to her favourite ministry – pastoral work in the Maridon Parish Centre, Hallam Diocese, Sheffield, which Darina loved.

From Doncaster, Sr Darina went to new Parish ministries in Grimethorpe and later in 2013 to Goldthorpe. Whenever a situation arose where the “extra mile” was called for, Sr Darina would say: “Yes, I will do it.” And she did! Her cheerfulness and willingness endeared her to many and won the hearts of all. Illness sadly changed everything for her in later years but she bore all with patience as best she could, continuing to be involved in the ministry of help and caring. She finally retired to Villa Maria in 2016 where she spent five years. It was a fruitful, prayerful and quiet time for her, in spite of her frail condition.

Sr Darina was cared for spiritually and in every way while going through her final illness. She received the Sacrament of the Sick for the last time on 16^th October and from then onwards it became obvious that her days were numbered. She died peacefully on 18^th October at 5.00pm with Sisters and Carers at her bedside.

May you rest in Joy and Peace forever, dear Sr Darina. Amen.

Deceased Sisters

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