Sister Maureen Herbert passed away peacefully on November 27, 2005 at the Columban Sisters' Nursing Home, Magheramore  Wicklow, Ireland.

From Cork city in Ireland, Maureen was born on August 3, 1918.   She joined the Columban Sisters on May 10, 1937 and made Profession of First Vows on September 7, 1939.

In 1947 she was assigned to  Han Yang,  China.  However,  soon after arriving there  she was called back to Ireland to get experience of nursing patients with tuberculosis in preparation for the new apostolate our Sisters were to undertake in Hong Kong.  She spent the greater part of her missionary life in Hong Kong.

Together with the four other pioneers, she arrived for the official opening of the Ruttonjee Sanatorium in January 1949. There, followed years of devoted service, hard work and ingenuity as, with limited resources but huge courage, Maureen nursed the very sick and the very poor sufferers of tuberculosis back to health. The children were her particular concern. She, who had trained in paediatrics, knew how to coax and infant to eat or  a weary tot to smile. People often remarked that Maureen, who was herself petite, had something special for children. This was true even in her old age – how often have we seen her face light up when a child or a baby was present. They were at ease with this little nun with the lovely smile; of such, as the gospel tells us, is the Kingdom of heaven.

As the number of patients in Ruttonjee increased the need for good nursing care became more pressing. Maureen went to do a Nursing Tutor’s course in the UK and on her return was Tutor in the newly established Nurse Training School in the hospital. Her commitment and exacting standards enabled many young women to obtain the British Tuberculosis and Thoracic Diseases Certificate (BTTA), a qualification highly prized in Hong Kong. More precious than the BTTA was the spirit of kindness, dedication and care for the very ill that Maureen passed on to the students, a spirit often noticed by those who passed through the wards in Ruttonjee.

Later on when she was the Nursing Tutor in Caritas Medical Centre, the largest Catholic hospital in Hong Kong or working in a similar position in Ballinasloe Hospital in Ireland, she shared the same vision with the students in widely differing situations. Maureen never lost her focus, she was never less than a faithful follower of the Lord.

In Hong Kong he was elected the first President of the Catholic Nurses Guild in Hong Kong, a body that is still going strong; she participated in the Better World Movement; despite a busy schedule she was spiritual Director to the Queen Mary Hospital Twin Presidia of the Legion of Mary in Hong Kong; for many years she was the Matron in Ruttonjee. Later on, before she returned to Ireland, she was secretary to Archbishop Dominic Tang, the exiled bishop of Canton.

She returned to Ireland in 1991 and continued to live an active life in community in Dublin for a few years  until failing health forced her to retire to the Motherhouse where she had been cared for in the Nursing Home there until her death.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated  on Wednesday November 30, 2005 at 11.30 hrs in the convent chapel after which she was buried in the convent cemetery.

May she rest in peace.

To contact the Columban Sisters,
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columbansrs@eircom.net