Mary de Lellis Gavigan

Deceased Sisters

Mary de Lellis Gavigan - Ireland
14/10/1924 - 17/12/2015

The Afterglow

A reflection on the Life and Death of Sister Mary de Lellis Gavaghan SM

For three days they came –

Men and women, young and old

To write a name

In the Book of Condolence

And tell her “thanks”

For the times she’d ministered to them

And listened

As one who understands

The reason for their pain.

With deft and healing hands

She’d tended their many needs –

Her practical expertise laced

With kindly common sense.

For three days we heard again

And yet again

How she’d touched the lives

Of three generations – and more!

Some who watched beside her coffin wondered if she knew what was being said about her –

others murmured that if she did, she wouldn’t care,

for all she wanted was a simple funeral: “no flowers and no flowery language”.

God granted her wish.

Her Funeral Mass in Carrick-on-Shannon

(scene of much of her professional and pastoral work)

was a beautiful, liturgical celebration –

There were no floral tributes, “no flowery language”.

People had paid their tribute with their feet –

They came in person, and in their hundreds.

On December 17th Sister de Lellis’ sun had set,

but the light and warmth of her influence left an afterglow.

The enormous appreciation for Sister and the esteem

in which this simple Marist was held,

affirms for us the blessings of our Charism.

We thank God for this and for Sister de Lellis’ life.

In the words of Saint Paul (Rom 8:3) to which we add a little Marist twist,

We firmly declare:

“with God and Mary on our side, who can be against us?”

Sister Moira Ryan SM

Deceased Sisters

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