Kathleen Dillon (Sr Bernard)

Deceased Sisters

Kathleen Dillon (Sr Bernard) - United Kingdom
25/04/1930 - 24/08/2018

Sister Kathleen Dillon known to us for many years as Sr Bernard was born on 25^th April 1930, fifth of eleven children to Michael and Bridget Dillon née Feeley, in Balchaun,Charlestown, County Mayo Ireland. With eight brothers and two sisters, she experienced joy, happiness and security in this fun-loving happy family.

Kathleen received her early education in the local National School and in Marist Convent School at Secondary level in her native Charlestown. She grew up in a devout Catholic family and when at the end of Secondary level education, with future in mind decision making time arrived for Kathleen at the early age of 17. A nephew writes: “From an early age she knew she was called to religious life” and with an Aunt a Dominican nun in the USA would her path in life take her there? However, “her family with mixed emotions watched her enter the Marist Sisters Saint Brigid’s Novitiate in Carrick-on-Shannon” and her parents like many other Irish parents saw another member of the family move away - a now common experience for the Dillon parents having already had four sons emigrate.

Following her first profession on 28^th February 1951, she transferred to Sunninghill England. From there she attended La Sainte Union Teachers’ Training College Southampton and on gaining her Teachers Certificate in Education Sister Kathleen returned to Sunninghill from where she taught in St Joseph’s Parish School Bracknell Berkshire. She transferred from there to Hythe, Kent where she worked in Saint Augustine’s Catholic Primary School where she was head teacher for a number of years.

On completion of her mandate as head teacher Sister Kathleen took on lesser responsibilities in communities in England and one in Stirling where she spent some time. In 1982 she went to Marist Convent in Fulham London SW6. Here, she was back in the classroom in the Junior School and enjoyed teaching until 1990 when she had a break to restore energies physical and spiritual.

Always particularly interested in catechetics she followed courses to update methods which at this time for the teaching of this subject were being reconsidered and updated. In 1994, she followed an RCIA Course at Heythrop College Cavendish Square London.

When she retired from teaching, she gave herself to Parish work and the support of needy causes with special focus on the Church in Need.

Sister Kathleen thoroughly enjoyed her ministry in the classroom; she was loved and appreciated by the children she taught and by their parents. She had a special interest in children who needed help and who gained confidence and success in an atmosphere of security and acceptance in her classroom. She gave of her best as an educator. Likewise as a contributor in her Parish ministry she had the interests of her contacts at heart.

Following a spell of part-time parish ministry in Walsall finding her energies waning she transferred to Hythe Convent where she continued to contribute to community life and was able to enjoy a slower pace.

Sister Kathleen was devoted to her family and appreciative of their warm thoughtful concern for her. She too showed her concern by praying for them and a niece commented that her insight and advice has been invaluable. Her visits to Ireland and Manchester were highpoints for her and for her family. She had a great appreciation of her family and her holidays spent with them were special to her.

Sister Kathleen was by nature a devout person and she appreciated greatly her Marist Way of Life chosen at the early age of seventeen. All through life she was supported by her strong faith and a special love of Our Lady enabled her to face her difficulties with courage and a security relying on prayer.

Gradually Sister Kathleen experienced a consistent slowing down and her mobility became impaired. With the aid of a walking aid she was able to come downstairs to the chapel, and the ground floor. Noticeably, she was beginning to suffer also from impaired memory a condition which restricted greatly her independent movement. As this condition progressed, it became evident that she needed more specialised care than could be given to her in Villa Maria and she was entrusted to the care of Applecroft Care Home, Sanctuary Close, River, Dover Kent. The Sisters and carers from Villa Maria visited her with Sr Sheila Kenny visiting on a weekly basis. Sisters from New Malden visited regularly too. Members of her family from Ireland were frequent visitors and the joy was, she usually knew them. She was visited by Father Copsey of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity from Hythe and by our communities when members were in the area

It was evident that Sister Kathleen’s health was deteriorating. Yet, she was up most days and stayed in her room or quietly rested in the common room as she felt able. Very peacefully, Sister Kathleen died on 24^th August surrounded by prayer of Marist Sisters in whose daily prayers for the sick she was specially remembered. May she rest in Peace.

Following a Requiem Mass in Villa Maria on12th September, attended by her sister from Ireland, her brother, nephews from Ireland and England and Marist communities Sister Kathleen surrounded by her Marist family, her Dillon family and a number of friends was laid to rest in Hawkinge Cemetery with a number of our Marist Sisters already gone to their eternal reward.

Deceased Sisters

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