Name in religious life: Sister Marie Simon
Year of profession: 18th April 1967
Age: 83 years old
Born 13th March 1941
Date of death: Tuesday 5 November 2024
Date and place of funeral: 28th November, Olney
Her main obediences were: Teaching in Birmingham; pastoral and social work in Chile; Accompanying novice and junior professed; Directress of Associates; Interfaith and Justice and Peace Co-ordinator.
Sr Maire Hayes died on the 5th November at the age of 83. Maire had suffered a severe stroke some six months before and after a brave struggle passed peacefully away at Burlington Hall. She was an enthusiastic and dynamic teacher and used her gift in a variety of settings, whether it was in the school situation or with the Associates. One Associate wrote: “She was very good at empowering Associates to use their various gifts and to take responsibility for organising the Associates in the province. I will always recall our conversation in our lounge when she asked me if I thought the Associates could “run the show themselves”! We will miss her humour and guidance over the years of responsibility for us.
From 1981 to 2002 she was part of the then vice-province of Chile, a people and a country that she loved to the end of her days. In 2003 she returned to the UK and took up an energetic ministry with various interfaith and justice and peace groups for the next 20 years. She was also directress of Associates and then Assistant to the Directress. In the final two years she was a support to the elderly sisters in Burlington Hall.
The many visitors hat Maire received over the last months of her life is a testament to her great capacity for friendship and networking. She will be greatly missed by many. As another colleague said: “She had a great awareness of the poorest in society and did so much to improve their lot as well as making others aware”. She lived Article 18 of the Rule of Life: ‘We must hear the cry of the poor and make it our own.’’
May God welcome her into his light!