Olivia Killeen, CSJP (1933-2025)
Sister Olivia Killeen was born to George and Olive Rose (Larkin) Killeen on 4 November 1933, in Lorrha, Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. She had three brothers, Michael, James, and Desmond, and four sisters, Joan, Alexis, Nodlag, and Margaret Mary. She dearly loved her family and looked forward to her holiday in Ireland every year.
Sister Olivia entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1950. After the novitiate, she went to St. Francis Xavier in Grimsby, England, where she was appointed to the nursery and was charged with the care of children three-to-five years of age.
Sister Olivia lived out her childhood dream to become a “nun-nurse” when she later attended nursing school at Dollis Hill, London, England. After graduating, she served at St. Hugh’s Nursing Home in Grimsby, England, and went on to become a theatre nurse.
In the early 1980s, Sister Olivia moved to Sacred Heart Convent in Rearsby, England, where she helped as and where needed. She also brought Holy Communion to the residents of a local care home and became a prison visitor. All of these were enriching experiences for her.
While living in Rearsby, Sister Olivia experienced the greatest delight in exploring God’s creation. She treasured the early mornings, soon getting into the habit of rising early to get outdoors to tune into nature. She loved wandering through the fields, seeing the first snowdrops heralding the arrival of Spring, the lambs skipping and jumping and the ewes keeping a watchful eye on their offspring.
In recent years, Sister Olivia resided at Maple Leaf House Care Home in Ripley, England. While unable to get out and roam the countryside like she had in her younger years, her room looked out on the garden, and she enjoyed pointing out the beauty outside her window to visitors. The sisters visited Sister Olivia regularly as did her nieces. Plans had been made to celebrate her seventy-fifth Jubilee later in 2025, but now Sister Olivia will celebrate in Heaven.
Sister Olivia Killeen died peacefully shortly after 12 a.m. on 2 May 2025. Her family, the CSJP sisters and associates in the UK Region, and the staff at Maple Leaf House gathered at a thanksgiving mass for the life of Sister Olivia on the 4 June 2025, at Sacred Heart Church, Leicester, England.
We are grateful that Sister Olivia answered God’s call and brought her energy and generous spirit to our shared mission of peace. She will surely now be an advocate for God's people in need from her new home with her loving Creator.
May she now rest in God’s Peace.