On 26th October 1933 Sister Mary Margaret Marren was born to Michael and Margaret Marren of Streamstown, Lavagh, Ballymote County Sligo, Ireland. She received her Primary education in Achonry National School and at Secondary level attended the Marist Convent School Tubbercurry County Sligo In August 1950 she responded to a call to religious life and followed in the footsteps of many past students from this area and many from the Marist Convent who became Marist Sisters.  To begin her training she joined the novitiate in Carrick-on-Shannon County Leitrim on 6th August 1950.  Following First Profession on 7th August 1952 she was one of the number assigned to the mission in England and transferred to Paignton community South Devon.  Leaving the tranquillity and security of the novitiate and within relatively easy reach of County Sligo was an apprehensive experience but lessened by the fact that some of her novitiate companions came to England too and by the welcome she received from the Paignton community leader and community.

 

From 1952 to 1956 she was a student teacher in the Paignton and Barnstaple communities and in 1956 followed a two year teachers’ training course in Sacred Heart College Westhill London a branch of Digby Stuart for those training to become teachers of the under 11 years age-group.  Returning to Paignton she taught for a further two years in the Junior School.   It was a major change from the open seaside area of Paignton to the crowded streets of London when in 1959 she was assigned to the Fulham community when she was appointed to the staff of Holy Cross Catholic Primary School to teach a class of first year Juniors in what was called the Annexe an area of the school a short distance from the main building.  In 1969 she was appointed head of the Annexe a position she held until 1973 when for health reasons she was advised to move from London to an area of cleaner air

Sister Mary Margaret thoroughly enjoyed her teaching and ministry in London and equally so when she next moved to Marist Sisters Bracknell Berkshire where she taught in St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and at weekends took groups of children who attended non-Catholic schools for catechetical instruction.  In the parish she also assisted in running a Youth Club for past students of St Joseph’s School and was generally active in pastoral ministry in the parish.

 

1988 saw Sister Mary Margaret return to Devon to Ottery-Saint-Mary where she was very happy to join the recently established Nursery Unit.  For two years she was Assistant in the Nursery and then assumed responsibility as its Leader.  Her continued involvement with children and with this age-group was a joy to her  In 1995 she became Leader of the community, continued to assist in the Nursery and carried out the ministry of bursar for the following six years.

She appreciated a sabbatical break at this stage and followed a renewal course in Hawkestone Hall Shropshire.  She was grateful too for the opportunity to visit family members.

 

Following her break Sister Mary Margaret was assigned to the Nympsfield community where she was involved in community ministry and helped in the Retreat Centre with light manual duties.  Retaining her interest in and expertise with children she assisted in Saint Joseph’s School by preparing children for the sacraments and assisting in other ways as needed.  Occasionally too she took Holy Communion to the housebound in the village until in 2013 she was very happy to move to Villa Maria to a quieter and less busy type of life.  She retained her interest in education and the daily news and it was usual to see her in the community room in Villa Maria reading the daily papers.  

 

Sister Mary Margaret was quiet, peaceful and unassuming but a person of strength and courage who carried out her duties without fuss.  She was guided and supported by her strong faith which together with love of our Lady and of her Marist charism was her driving force. She was very appreciative of her family who in turn valued highly her gentle thoughtfulness.

 

At her funeral her brother Peter from Ireland read a letter from their brother Tom in New Zealand who spoke of her with great affection and treasured her ‘late’ phone calls and thoughtful remembrance of children’s birthdays and other family celebrations.

Mary Margaret’s annual holiday spent with family in Ireland was special for her and as usual she hoped to go in 2016 but God had other designs.Sister Mary Margaret’s strength began to wane and unexpectedly her condition deteriorated and needed hospital treatment.  In the William Harvey Hospital she was visited daily by the Sisters and Carers from Villa Maria and by family from Ireland.  Very quiet and peaceful in life she likewise in death returned to her maker quietly and gently on 18th April 2016.

 

Her remains were received into Villa Maria Chapel by Father Copsey on 4th April to Evening Prayer.  Requiem Mass on 5th was attended by Sister Mary Margaret’s elderly brother Peter, nephews and cousins and by many sisters from our communities in England.  Burial took place in Hawkinge cemetery.  Prayers at the graveside by Father Copsey were followed by the singing of the Salve Regina and the Marist Hymn.  To the lingering strains of the Marist Hymn all began to move away leaving another Marist Sister in this village of the dead’ among many of her earthly now heavenly friends.