ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE RELEASE: By Fiona Basile
As I enter the door of Villa Maria Aged Care Facility at Bundoora, I am greeted by the warm smile and hug of Sr Myra Gleeson SGS. Sr Myra is showing me to the room of Sr Mary Thecla Slattery SGS who celebrates her 108th birthday on 28 December. In reaching this milestone, she’ll have been a professed Sister of the Good Samaritans for 82 years!
On the way, Sr Myra tells me: “Sr Thecla is doing really well today; she’s very alert. In fact, this morning I told Sr Thecla that she turns 108 soon and that she’s probably the oldest Religious in Victoria. Sr Thecla replied ‘who?’ and I said ‘you!’ and then Sr Thecla said ‘Well what am I doing sitting here then?’”
“Isn’t that remarkable?” said Sr Myra. “Yes it is,” I responded.
Verna completed her secondary education at Santa Maria College in South Yarra. After taking up employment for some time as a telephonist, she sought permission to join the Good Samaritan Sisters Novitiate in Balmain, which she did on 19 March 1926 aged 23. She was given the name in religion of Sister Mary Thecla and made her first profession vows on 8 January 1929 aged 26.
Her sister Loretta - Sister Mary Clare - had made her profession as a Good Samaritan Sister four years earlier, and a second sister Ursula - Sister Mary Ursula - would follow Clare and Thecla some 14 years later. Sisters Clare and Ursula have now pre-deceased Thecla, as have her sisters Eileen, Claire and Kathleen and her brother John.
Sr Myra tells me that “Thecla’s teaching ministry is legendary”. She taught in primary and secondary schools in Victoria, NSW and SA for almost 50 years.
In 1974, having completed her years in the classroom, Sr Thecla became the Librarian at St Gabriel’s School in Reservoir for five years.
Sr Myra tells me, “There, Thecla charmed all with her energy and cheerful approach to life. A writer in one of the local papers wrote, ‘she has one of the sharpest minds at the centre, constantly amazing other residents and staff alike with her world of knowledge’, a gift that Thecla attributes to her love of reading.”
Sister Thecla Slattery is now a resident at Villa Maria Aged Care Facility in Bundoora. There are 16 Sisters of the Good Samaritan who are cared for at Villa Maria, including Sr Thecla’s first cousin Sr Catherine Slattery who is 103 years-old.
Unable to walk now, Sr Thecla sits in her wheelchair and has a favourite place in the Villa where she can look out into the garden observing the beauty of the changing seasons and commenting when birds come to drink or bathe in the bird bath.
“Up until three weeks ago, Sr Thecla was also reading books,” said Sr Myra. “After praising God using her Book of Psalms, she’d reach for her poetry book and relished the words of Wordsworth and Keats.
“She has a deep appreciation of classical music and at times has delighted the staff with her renditions of songs of by-gone days. She’s just a darling.”
As I prepare to leave, I take Sr Thecla’s hand and get in very close so that she can hear me. “I have to go now Sr Thecla; happy birthday for the 28th and thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”
“Nice to meet you,” she says.
“It was really nice to meet you too,” I replied.
The photo above of Sr Thecla Slattery SGS reading was provided by Sr Myra Gleeson SGS, who features in the second photo above. In the black and white photo below showing Good Samaritan Sisters seated, Sr Thecla is on the far left.
Gallery photos Fiona Basile
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