Thomasina Gilfillan

Deceased Sisters

Thomasina Gilfillan - Ireland
04/02/1914 - 24/04/2016

Our dear Sister Thomasina left us for the Great Beyond on April 24th 2016 in her 103rd year. We were all wakened by Sister Mary at 2 o’clock and were there at her leaving as was her dear sister, Sister de Chantal who had stayed with us that night. Thomasina left like a puff of wind – we scarcely knew she had gone.

Thomasina was a larger than life character – despite her small stature. She had a story for every occasion and has left a legacy of stories behind. She was a member of the Gilfillan family. They were a family of 9 and produced three priests and four nuns – 2 Mercy sisters and two Marist sisters.

Thomasina left home in 1935. After profession, her first teaching post was in Tubbercurry where she taught for 11 years. After which she moved to Carrick-on-Shannon and spent another 11 years there teaching little boys. Eleven was a special number for her as her next stop was Charlestown, where she spent the next 11 years.

Always on the move she taught in Dublin for 15 more years before going to Perth, Scotland in the 1980’s. She was a special guest at the 100th anniversary of Tubbercurry. While she moved around a lot she always supported Leitrim Football.

The rule of silence, Thomasina said was always a hard one for her as she loved to talk and tell stories. She welcomed changes to Religious Life during her long life, especially more freedom and changes to the habit.

She returned to Carrick-on-Shannon in 2003 and retired there. When asked for the secret to her long life she always claimed that it was having a bright outlook on life.

She is survived by her sister, Sister de Chantal RSM. Her nephew Joe, Joe’s wife Mary, her niece Noreen and Noreen’s husband John Feely. Her family visited her very often and she always enjoyed their visits.

Thomasina was one in a million. As the Irish say ‘Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann’ we will not see her like again.

No doubt that ‘Storytelling’ has taken a leap forward in Heaven.

May her gentle soul rest in Peace.

Deceased Sisters

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