Sunday's Obituary: Ellen Agnes Murray - Sister Mary Columbkill

Sister Mary Columbkill

Ellen Agnes Murray was born on January 09, 1888  in the villiage of Burren, in the old Parish of Abby, now New-Quay, County Clare, Ireland.  She was the daughter of James Murray and Cecilia Linane.  Her name is listed as Helena on the Register of Baptismal, her Record of Apostolic Services gives her name as Ellen Murrayand her obituary gives her name as Ellen Agnes Murray.  As a nun, she took the name Sister Mary Columbkill.  

Could this have been in Ireland?

Ellen Murray arrived in the US on April 17, 1908 from Queenstown.  She resided in New York City and in Westchester, New York prior to entering the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross.  Her date of entry into the convent was listed as August 28, 1917 from St. Raphael's Parish in Westchester, NY. She received her Habit on January 6, 1918 at Saint Mary's Convent in Notre Dame, Indiana. 

Sister Columbkill's Record of Apostolic Services indicates that she attended school until the sixth grade in Ireland, she completed secondary school in 1931 at Saint Mary's Convent in Indiana and was a graduate of Mount Carmel Hospital School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio.  She studied orthopedics, surgery, and medicine. 

Sister Columbkill was visiting her sister, Julia Murray Moylan, in Ireland when she fell ill and returned to the United States by plane.  She died several weeks later on June 18, 1955 at Mount Carmel Hospital.  Her funeral was attended by many.  Honorary pallbearers included the Governor of Ohio and the Mayor of Columbus.  Two of her obituaries are below. 

Sr. Columbkill Is Dead at 67 At Mt. Carmel

Sister M. Columbkill, 67, of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, known to hundreds of patients who received her kindly ministrations at Mt. Carmel Hospital, died Saturday morning at the hospital where she served for the  past 34 years.

She was stricken several weeks ago while visiting a sister in her native Ireland and was returned here by plane.

Supervisor of the medical division at the hospital, Sister Columbkill was greatly beloved by the many patients who had received her solicitous care, Mother Constantine, hospital administrator said Saturday.

Born Ellen Agnes Murray in County Clare, Ireland, the Sister came to Mt. Carmel in 1921 and was a graduate of the Mt. Carmel Hospital School of Nursing.

Surviving, in addition to her sister in Ireland, are a sister in Dubuque, Iowa, and three sisters in New York City.

Omission of flowers has been requested.

                                      Columbus Dispatch June 18, 1955

Requiem Mass Is Offered for Sr. Columbkill

Bishop Ready presided at a Solemn Requiem Mass Tuesday in St. Joseph Cathedral for Sister Mary Columbkill, C. S. C., supervisor of the medical division at Mount Carmel Hospital, who died Saturday.

The Mass was offered by Monsignor John W. Kerrigan, chaplain of Mount Carmel Hospital. Father Hugh Murphy and Father Thomas Sabrey served as deacon and subdeacon, respectively.

The Bishop gave final absolution and spoke briefly, lauding Sister’s work for the Church and the community in her 34 years of labor at Mt. Carmel.

Active pallbearers were Doctors Michael Anthony, Perry Ayres, Robert Murnane, Carey Paul, Alexander Pollock, and William Sparling.

Honorary pallbearers were Governor Lausche, Mayor Sensenbrenner, Norman Altman, Ben Arnoff, H. O. Bratton, Thomas J. Carroll, John D. Connor, Wilby S. Cowan, Andre Crotti, Robert Daly, H. B. Davidson, Frank Dunbar, E. H. Echenrode, John Falter, Huston Fulton, Paul Gingher, Col. Chester W. Goble, David Graham, E. W. Harris, Fred R. Hearn, James Henry, Fred Jones, Phillip T. Kniez, Henry Lacey, Charles Lazarus, Robert Lazarus, Dalton Maloney, Thomas J. Murnane, J. Real Neth, Dr. Clark Pritchett, Philip Reed, Harrison Sayre, C. C. Sherburne, James W. Shocknessy, E. J. Stedhem, Dr. Wells Technor, and Dr. Judson Wilson. 

Sister Columbkill, 67, a native of County Clare, Ireland came to this country shortly before entering St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Novitiate for the Holy Cross Sisters, Notre Dame, Ind., in 1918.  In 1921 Sister came to Mount Carmel.

Sister was a graduate of the Mount Carmel School of Nursing and studied orthopedics, surgery and medicine.

Her kindness and generosity won for her hundreds of friends throughout the diocese. 

She was stricken several weeks ago while visiting a sister in Ireland and was flown home. In addition to her sister in Ireland, she is survived by a sister in Dubuque, Ia., and three sisters in New York City.

Burial was in Mount Calvary Cemetery.

                                                Catholic Times, June 24, 1955

Diana

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