Sr. Kathleen Marie Farrell, MSC

Sister Kathleen Marie Farrell, MSC (AKA Sr. Robert Marie) was born in Cloverhill, Roscommon, Ireland on December 14, 1930. She died peacefully at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Home on January 15, 2025 at 5:45 AM.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Roger Farrell of Ireland and Ellen Rourke Farrell of Ireland; her brothers, John Patrick and John Joseph Farrell, and her sisters: May Feeley, Bridie Rossiter, Anne Farrell, Ellen Dignan, Elizabeth Finnerty, and Agnes Casey.

She is survived by her sister Winnifred Orr and her husband Eric, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She entered the Marianites of Holy Cross on July 2, 1946, in Precigné, France and pronounced first vows on April 14, 1948. She professed her perpetual vows on October 23, 1951. During her years in France, she was trained as a nurse, and she ministered in nursing at St. Joseph Clinic and St. Peter Fourier Clinic.

In 1952, she was sent to New Orleans, Louisiana. There she received her baccalaureate in elementary education from Our Lady of Holy Cross College (now the University of Holy Cross). She taught elementary school at Saints Peter and Paul, St. Agnes, St. Mary of the Angels, St. Julian Eymard, St. Cecilia and Incarnate Word Schools in New Orleans. She taught at St. Alphonsus in Ocean Springs, MS, at St. Edmund in Eunice, Holy Family in Port Allen, and St. Rita in Alexandria. Using her nursing skills, she cared for the sisters at the community infirmary for the Marianites at Holy Cross Convent in New Orleans. She also served as a missionary in San Jose, Chile at Hogar de Niños at the orphanage and in pastoral care in the parish. Her last years of active ministry were spent living at Prompt Succor Convent in Opelousas and caring for the Marianites at Prompt Succor Nursing Home. She would lovingly tend to their laundry, their hair care, their sewing needs and each task was done with dedication and devotion. Due to declining health, she was admitted to the nursing home on October 15, 2015.

Sr. Kathleen was deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. At some moment in her life, she heard Mary say to her: “Do whatever He tells you.” She faithfully followed Mary’s words by saying “FIAT - YES” whenever and however she was called. Her “YES” took her on a journey to leave her homeland of Ireland, to go to France, to go to the United States, to go to Chile, to return to the United States.

Throughout her years of service, she was especially devoted to caring for the sick, the orphaned, and the elderly. Even when she became a resident of the nursing home, she would go each evening to see if she could assist the other sisters on her hall. Her love and devotion also extended to her family. Throughout her life, she remained connected to her family spread to many parts of the world. Known as Aunt Kathleen, she was a source of support and strength to them.

Patience and gratitude were the hallmarks of the end of her life. For any care or attention she received, she would lovingly respond with a smile on her face and a touch of Ireland in her voice – “Thank you, dear.” We treasure her memory as we send her home: May the roads rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rains fall soft upon fields. And until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

We want to express our gratitude to the staff of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Home for their unfailing kindness and compassion to Sr. Kathleen through her years at

Prompt Succor. We also want to thank LHC hospice staff who graciously and generously assisted in her care in the final months of her life.

To celebrate her life, a wake service will be held in the chapel at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Home on Friday, January 24, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM. The funeral mass will begin at 10:30 AM and burial will follow in St. Landry Cemetery in Opelousas.

In lieu of flowers, the Marianites of Holy Cross request that memorial donations be made to the Marianites of Holy Cross Congregational Center at 75520 Hwy 1081, Covington, Louisiana, 70435. Thank you for your remembrance!

Words of Comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.