Sister Jeanne Mackey

Sister Mary Jeanne Mackey was born on 25 April 1918 at Parramatta. She was named Moriadh Jeanne. Her father, Thomas, was born at Toowoomba, and her mother, Moriadh Jeanne at Milmerran, Queensland.
There were three children, Moriadh, the eldest, a sister Ursula, and brother Noel (now deceased).

Moriadh received her education from the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, Wollongong. Her talents developed in several fields during these years, and she devoted much of her leisure time to sport. As well, she loved music, dancing and singing and took part in many dancing competitions.

On 2 February 1937 Moriadh entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, and on January 4, 1940 along with 19 other companions, made her first profession of vows taking the name of Sister Mary Jeanne. She was then appointed to Queanbeyan but in 1943 returned to St Scholastica’s Training College to complete her teacher training.

In 1944 she went to the Infants Department of St James’ School, Forest Lodge, where she remained for three years. From 1946 to 1948 she taught in Queensland at Bulimba and Charters Towers but returned to New South Wales in 1952 to teach at Newtown for seven years. Between the years 1959 and 1977 she was Superior at Thornbury, Dee Why and Warriewood and Principal at Sacred Heart School Mona Vale for five years.

From 1979 till her retirement to Polding Villa on 3 June 1993, Jeanne lived in various houses of the Sydney Province. In 1996 she took up residence at Bethany Nursing Home, Eastwood.

Sister Mary Jeanne died at Eastwood on Saturday, 10 March 2001. She is survived by her sister, Ursula and nieces Carmel and Louise.