The young Annie Duffy grew up in a home where family cared for each other, where neighbours had a close bond and where faith and commitment to church were central to life. Little wonder then that the seed of vocation was nurtured in Annie’s life.  In her 19th year she and two companions from the neighbourhood (Sr Brigid Naughton and Sr Genevieve Naughton) had discovered the Marist Sisters in  Carrick-on-Shannon  and discerned that this was the community that attracted them. And so her Marist story begins.

 

Sr Canisius was received as a novice on February 15, 1945 in Carrick-on-Shannon. She made First Profession on February 18, 1946 and final vows on January 1, 1951. Her ministry from 1946 to 1960 was general house work spread over all our Marist communities in Ireland. Two of these, Tubbercurry and Carrick were boarding schools, so life was busy. Sr Canisius worked hard and everything she did was done well. 

 

In 1960 she began a training program for nursing in the Mater Hospital, Dublin. This was a very big change for her and a major challenge at age 36. But, she gave it her best and in typical Canisius style she worked hard and mastered all her studies and practical experience until she graduated with a Diploma in nursing in 1963. For some time she continued to work as a staff nurse in the Mater hospital until she received her recognition as a State registered nurse. Then she moved to Carrick-on-Shannon where her nursing career covered a long span from the late 60’s to the late 80’s. For some years she worked as a district health nurse connected with Mohill general hospital and following that she was a staff nurse in St. Patrick’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Shannon, continuing a long Marist tradition of nursing there. Her service was very much appreciated by the patients. She received many plaudits like:”she’s the best nurse”, “she’s so kind”, “she’s very thorough”. She gave much support and comfort to families by her tender care of their vulnerable elderly members. It would seem that nursing was a very fulfilling ministry for Sr. Canisius. 

 

After her retirement from nursing on September 16, 1989, Sr Canisius moved to Sundrive Road where she continued to be involved in various ministries as long as she was able. Family was very central to her life. Perhaps being an only girl she felt a need to take care of her brothers and their families. So she followed their lives with great interest. But, equally too, community life and prayer were very central to her life and in her later years you would find her in the chapel many times during the day. 

 

She was dealing with some health issues for some time and shortly after her 91st birthday, on September 16, 2015, she was hospitalised with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Despite the expectation that life was short she was still in hospital at Christmas. She expressed

 a wish to die at home in Sundrive and so she came home on January 13 and received 24/7 care, monitored by hospice.  She was happy to be home. It was a special time for her family, especially her one surviving brother, James, to spend time with her whenever they wanted. And it was also a special privilege for all of us in community to pray with her and accompany her by our presence as she faded into unconsciousness and finally went home to her God. She died on Sunday morning January 31, 2016. After her funeral mass in St. Bernadette’s church her funeral cortege set out for Clonark to her family grave. It was her wish to be buried there.

Rest in peace, Canisius!