Sr. Teresa Ryan (Margaret Teresa)
Sr. Teresa Ryan was born in Co. Limerick, Ireland on 30th June 1924. Her parents Margaret and Patrick Ryan were blessed with a large family, Teresa being the second youngest. Teresa recalled how helping on the family farm was part of every day life for her and her brothers and sisters when they were growing up.
Teresa was educated at the local National school, and later at the Presentation Secondary School. After finishing, she was offered a job in Dublin caring for blind ladies, a job she enjoyed. During this time she began to consider religious life. Three of her sisters had already become religious, two of whom had entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. At age 19 she followed in the footsteps of the latter, arriving in Hastings in September 1943, to begin her postulancy. She was received into the novitiate in March 1944 and given the name Sister Mary Teresa.
After her profession Sister Teresa worked in many convents, at different stages throughout her long life – Hastings, Leeds, Sturry, Deal, Chew Magna, Beechcourt, Leyland, Wealdstone and Bootle. She worked tirelessly organising and assisting with the laundry and kitchen. Everything and everywhere was spotless under her care, such was her desire to do her best for God.
She was active in pastoral work in all the parishes in which she served. This was a ministry very dear to her heart. The people she visited were always remembered in her prayers. Bootle was the last place for her active apostolate. She spent fourteen years there, made great friends among the parishioners and always spoke with fondness of those years as being among the happiest in her religious life.
With the passing years Sister Teresa’s general health and mobility deteriorated and it was decided that she should move to Euphrasie Barbier Convent, so that she could receive more care. This was a big wrench for her to move from Bootle, but with courage and faith she went to Sturry, Kent in January 2015. She had made up her mind that she was going to be content in her new environment and quickly adjusted to life there. She occupied herself with sorting stamps, in order to raise funds for the missions, as well as keeping her mind active with ‘Word Search.’ Teresa was very independent and at pains not to be a burden to anyone. If someone offered to help her in any way she would reply, “I can manage myself, thank you.” However, in January 2017, Sister Teresa had to give up her valiant efforts to manage and, with tears in her eyes, asked to go to St. Anne’s where she would receive more help, especially during the night. Once again, her faith and trust in God helped her to make this difficult transition and she settled down into the rhythm of life in St. Anne’s.
In March, Teresa had a fall and was admitted to hospital in Margate. In spite of her pain she was cheerful and expressed her gratitude to the nurses who cared for her, as well as thanking the Sisters who visited her regularly. Her condition deteriorated rapidly and after receiving the sacrament of the sick she gently went to God at 6.45am on 13th March. Two of the Sisters were by her bedside throughout the night, until the Lord called Teresa to her eternal home after seventy five years of loving, faithful service as a Sister of our Lady of the Missions.
Sister Teresa’s remains were taken from Margate Hospital to St. Mary’s Church, Leyland, for her funeral on Tuesday April 10th 2018. The funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr. Jonathan Cotton OSB with Fr. Joe Kelly as concelebrant. Sister’s family was represented by her nephew and his wife from Ireland as well as her niece and three cousins from Birmingham. Our RNDM family was represented by Sisters from the communities in the North of England – Bamber Bridge, Liverpool and Manchester, two Sisters from St. Anne’s, Sturry and Sister Margo Murphy, UK/Ireland Province leader.
The liturgy was simple and meaningful, as Teresa would have liked it. She always said she did not want a fuss! After the Mass she was taken to the cemetery in Leyland where her two sisters, Mary St. Bride and Sr. Eileen are buried and she was laid to rest beside them as she had requested. May she rest in peace.
‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary’ ‘let what you have said be done to me.’
Luke 1:38