Lest We Forget
Sister Laurence Marie O'Neill, CSJP (1925-2008)
Sr. Laurence Marie O’Neill was born in Dublin, Ireland and baptized Flora Elizabeth. She was the eldest of seven children born to Laurence and Hannah Harrison O’Neill. At the age of eighteen, she joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in Cabra, Co. Down. Six months later she sailed from Ireland to Sacred Heart Novitiate in Nottingham, England. Due to the war, travel to the United States was not possible at that time, but finally, in October 1946, she, along with Sr. Jerome and eight young Sisters, sailed from South Hampton, England, arriving in New York one week later.
After completing her second year of Novitiate here in Englewood Cliffs, Sr. Laurence Marie pronounced her first vows on September 8, 1947, and immediately thereafter was assigned to teach at St. James’ School, Penns Grove. After four years in Penns Grove, Laurence Marie was missioned next to St. Luke’s Ho-Ho-Kus, then Our Lady of Peace, Fords; Holy Rosary, Edgewater; St. Mary’s, Salem; Our Lady of Victories, Landisville; and St. Joseph, Medford. During all these years, Sr. Laurence Marie continued her studies, and earned her degree in education from Seton Hall University in 1959. A big change came in 1964, with assignment to the California region, first at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Monterey Park and subsequently in St. Genevieve’s in Van Nuys, and Mater Dolorosa, South San Francisco. Of these years, Sr. Laurence wrote: “My fifteen ears on the west coast were very happy ones for me, and my experience of living there did much to broaden my spiritual and cultural vision and insights. I also had the opportunity of getting to know many of our Sisters in Our Lady Province, with whom strong bonds of friendship were formed and still last.”
Deciding that it was time to return “home” to new Jersey, she continued her ministry of teaching, but in 1984 due to increasing health problems, it seemed wise to take some time off, and she temporarily moved to St. Michael Villa. The change proved restorative, and two years later, after prayer, consultation and a visit to Ireland, she decided to accept the invitation of Sr. Helen Blendermann to join her at St. Peter the Apostle School, River Edge, on a trail basis. Part-time ministry soon grew into full-time as she responded to the need for a librarian and remedial teacher for grades 1-4. Throughout this difficult period of ill health and uncertainty, Laurence Marie maintained a spirit of gratitude for the support and encouragement she received from her family, friends and her Congregation. After six happy years in River Edge, it was time to return permanently to St. Michael Villa, where she took care of the Chapel, and for eight years she worked as a team member with Sr. Mary Leo and Sr. Clare McNerney.
In 2005, at the time of her 60th Jubilee, Sr. Laurence wrote, “In my thirteen years here at St. Michael’s, I offered my services to our elderly and infirm Sisters by writing letters for them, finding the ‘Irish Program’ on the radio every Sunday, helping to serve meals and pushing wheelchairs. Now I am one of those in a wheelchair and using a walker. My room is no longer on the fourth floor, but in the new infirmary, which command a gorgeous view of the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge.” During these last few years, Sr. Laurence Marie suffered many setbacks in health, however, whenever asked how she was feeling, her response was always, ‘I guess it could be a lot worse.’
How would Laurence Marie like to be remembers? She told us: “I would like to be remembered first as ‘Religious’ in every sense of the word. Then, as a Sister who was gentle and kind and who tried to bring peace to those with whom I lived and worked.” She was indeed a Religious in every sense of the word—she was a kind, gentle and prayerful Sister of St. Joseph of Peace, and as we celebrate her life, she is enjoying the fullness of peace and joy in the presence of the God she loved and served.
Maureen Collins, CSJP