Josephine RYAN Obituary

The death of Sister Kate Ryan brings memories for our family of her positive presence in our lives from the 1960s when our late sister Paula joined the congregation at Whanganui. Kate was always sincerely interest and concerned, and contributed interesting, and often humourous conversation from a wide range of interests and spiritual influences. Paula looked on Kate as a wise mentor, a good friend and strong support. Our kind condolences to the Sisters, and to the family, who will no doubt be missing their very good friend and family member. God keep you. Be in peace Sister Kate. Nga mihi nui. Leo Brettkelly, Wellington.

This was sent to me by an old friend from Hastings, asking if this was the Sr Kate who had made such a difference to my life. Indeed it is she. Sister Kate ( I'm sure we christened her this when she came to St Joseph's in Hastings in 1966) was an inspirational teacher. She was given our 6th form class for History and English and she had to try to teach us at the same time as having the 4th form next door. She had so few material resources and had to rely on her own warmth, wisdom and knowledge. We loved her and we learnt so much from her. When I went to university she gave me all her own work on Dickens, Thackeray and Keats. I still have them and everything she taught me helped me to teach at a Catholic girls' school in Melbourne for almost 30 years. These girls had far more material resources than we had but they did not have Sister Kate. I think I was the richer student. She also taught me elocution and her brother Father Bern ("Doc") Ryan who taught at Silverstream helped me with my Religious Education speech in the Archbishop O'Shea Shield competition. What a gift to students this family was!
Rest in Peace, Sister Kate.
Margot Thompson (Kennedy)