In Memory

Sr. Sheila Murphy

Sheila died peacefully in the loving care of the staff and sisters at Sallyville House after a short illness. May she rest in peace.

Sheila was born in Little Island, Waterford to Michael Murphy and Mary Anne nee Dempsey. She was baptised Judith Mary.  She was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Bridget and Lila and her brothers Jim and Pat. Sheila is sadly missed by her much loved sister Sr. Anne and brother Michael, her sister-in-law Margot, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, aunts Sr. Lila Dempsey, St. Clare’s Convent, Newry and Sr. Alice Dempsey, St. John of God Sister, Wexford, her extended family, friends and St. John of God Community.

Sheila attended Faithlegg primary school and Waterford Vocational school where she studied English and Art and completed a secretarial course. Following school, she worked in a bookstore in Waterford and helped her grandmother on the farm. She loved sport and enjoyed cycling.

Sheila entered the St. John of God Novitiate on 8th September 1957. She made her Profession on 10th May 1960 and then went to Trowbridge. There, she completed her teacher training at La Sancta Union College in South Hampton in 1965. She taught in Bristol for two years and then volunteered for the Kimberley mission in North West Australia. She spent ten years there, initially working in Derby and later in Beagle Bay.

In 1977, Sheila joined the London Community and completed a Special Education Diploma while there. She returned to Ireland to the SJG community Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin and taught in St Paul’s Special School Beaumont 1978 until 1994. This was a time of great joy for her. She completed a 2 year part-time Diploma in Catechetics in Mater Dei and attended Blackrock Teacher’s Centre receiving a Certificate in Dyslexia teaching during these years.

In 1995 she returned to Derby, WA until 2010 and taught in Beagle Bay and elsewhere in the Kimberley while lecturing part-time in Notre Dame University, Broome.  She completed a distance Masters in Education course with the Northern Territory University in Darwin between 1997 and 2001 and went on to tutor Aboriginal teaching assistants studying at the University of Notre Dame.

During this spell in N W Australia Sheila had personal renewal time in St. Anslem’s, Kent, England and did a New Ecology Course in Florida in 2005/’06. During her 22 years ministering in the Kimberley, Sheila made a significant contribution to Aboriginal Education. She had a unique ability to connect with people and their culture. To this day students continue to express their gratitude to Sheila for all they have achieved because of her commitment and dedication to her teaching.

In 2010 Sheila returned to Ireland, to St John of God House Community in Kilkenny.  After years abroad, this was a welcome transition, as she had precious time with family and friends. While there, she taught in the Special Needs class in the St. John of God School and also worked at the Cathedral Bookshop. She enjoyed gardening, arts and crafts, poetry and holidaying with family.

Sheila retired to Sallyville House in 2025. She said ‘I am enjoying Sallyville for as long as God gives me’. Sheila had such a calm nature and positive creative spirit that her illness crept up almost unnoticed and took hold in such a short time. During this time the extent of her friendships was very evident from the many messages of concern she received.

A large gathering of family, friends, staff, colleagues and sisters said their final farewell to Sheila while she was reposing in the Convent Chapel.  Evening Prayer was celebrated and followed by Sheila’s removal to St. Nicholas’ Church Faithlegg. The following afternoon 11th April her funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr. P.J Breen P.P. Faithlegg followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.