Sister Kathleen Williamina Carroll (Mary John Theophane)

Kathleen was born at Frankton Junction, Hamilton on September 6 1925 to William and Mary Carroll. She was the 4th child of their 5 children; Eileen, Mary, William and Joseph. Kathleen began her education at St Columba’s School Frankton which was staffed by the Mission Sisters and later moved to Ohakune and then Whanganui. Her secondary education began at Sacred Heart College Whanganui and then continued at St Mary’s Juniorate in Pukekohe where she was again educated by the Mission Sisters.

In 1944 Kathleen entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in Christchurch where she received the name Sister Mary John Theophane. She was known by this name until the late 1970s. Kathleen made her First Profession on January 6, 1947. She would have been 70 years professed in January 2017.

After her profession Kathleen began her teaching career which spanned more than 30 years. She initially spent three years teaching at St Mary’s in Hamilton and at St Columba’s School Frankton before spending a year in 1951, at Loreto Hall (the Catholic Teachers’ College) in Auckland, gaining her Trained Teacher’s Certificate. Returning to the classroom Kathleen spent the next 26 years with young people at school in Hamilton, Morrinsville and Pukekohe. She served as principal for 20 of these years.

When St Pius X School Melville began in 1958 Kathleen was appointed the Foundation Principal. She was a very capable and competent principal, demanding the best of her staff and her pupils. Kathleen was a creative and engaging teacher who was well known for the musicals and pantomimes that she produced. Not only would she prepare the music but also the costumes.

She was a great seamstress and her creativity came out in all that she did. Kathleen had a gift for music and was able to pass this on to her pupils. There would be hundreds of people who could look back on their school days with grateful thanks for the teaching and leadership they received from Sister John Theophane.

Kathleen retired from teaching in 1978 and moved into community work. She gained a certificate of Proficiency from the Citizens Advice Bureau in Mount Wellington and also studied at Manakau Technical Institute obtaining a Community Worker’s Certificate in 1980. With these qualifications in hand she was ably equipped to work for two years with the Red Cross Family Support Group in Panmure followed by five years with the Extra Mural Social Worker’s Unit at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland. Her experience as a teacher gave her a deep understanding of the difficulties facing both children and parents. She was able to approach people who had personal problems with empathy and understanding. She loved this ministry and spent her time teaching life skills
such as how to pay bills and to budget well to those who needed or wanted those skills.

In 1987 Kathleen moved to Huntly where she was involved in parish visiting and became a well-known member of the community. She played the organ, worked in the parish office and became a regular visitor to the people in the parish. She was an avid gardener and spent many hours tending the garden around the convent in Huntly. She is remembered for her creativity in liturgy and her love of all people. She would have scripture quotes on the wall behind the altar pesented in her precise, neat way. She was very involved with people and always very kind to the priests who would often be invited to sample one of her beautifully cooked meals.

In 2005 while Kathleen was preparing a banner for a jubilee celebration she had a fall and fractured her hip. This event led to her spending time in St Joan’s Hospital, Hamilton and then moving permanently to Atawhai Mercy Assisi Home and Hospital.

The sisters in Hamilton and beyond have been constant visitors to Kathleen bringing joy to her life. She loved flowers and colour and always enjoyed seeing beautiful things around her.

In early June Kathleen contracted an infection which didn’t respond to antibiotics. After a day in Waikato hospital she returned to Assisi Hospital on Tuesday night and died peacefully there on Thursday morning, 9 June. Sisters and friends gathered on Monday afternoon for a prayer vigil and story sharing in the Assisi Chapel. There were many stories told. The next day about 50 people gathered to remember Kathleen at her requiem mass. Fr Vincent Jones, who knew Kathleen well when she lived in Huntly, celebrated the Eucharist and he was able to tell us some amusing stories of his time with Kathleen.

Kathleen was a woman of fun and energy with an ability to connect with people. She was generous and caring and faithful to her commitment as a Sister of Our Lady of the Mission for nearly 70 years.
May she rest in peace