Over a century of life: Remarkable Waterford nun and Ireland’s oldest person dies aged 108
Sister Colette Hickey, who passed away at the age of 108, just weeks after becoming Ireland’s oldest living person. Photo: Dan Linehan
Tributes have been paid to Ireland’s – and Waterford’s – oldest person, who passed away aged 108 last week.
Sr Colette Hickey, who became Ireland's oldest person just a couple of weeks ago, had celebrated her 108th birthday on January 31. She died on Tuesday, June 23.
Born Bridget Hickey, in Barracree, Ballinamult, Co Waterford, she joined the Good Shepherd Sisters in Limerick in September 1935, at just 17 years of age.
She was received into the congregation and given the religious name Colette a year later.
She made first profession in July 1938 and was appointed to the community in Sunday’s Well in Cork, where she worked in the bakehouse and kitchen.
With her pioneering spirit, approximately 50 years ago, Sr. Colette established Edel House in 1972, which provides housing and support for women and children experiencing homelessness in Cork.
Continuing her legacy, the house continues to offer invaluable services to those in need.
Through her own commitment and drive, and through the ongoing work of those involved with the charity she founded, St Colette transformed the lives of an extremely large number of people during her lifetime.
While she lived away from County Waterford for the majority of her life, the Déise never left her, and she was extremely proud of where she came from.
She grew up at the foot of the Comeragh Mountains and the people of the Touraneena and Ballymacarbry areas in Co Waterford were also very proud of what Sr Colette achieved during her lifetime.
She was also held in extremely high regard among her order, the Good Shepherd Sisters, who described her as a visionary person who planted the seed over 50 years ago for what developed into what is now known as Good Shepherd Cork.
The Good Shepherd order is renowned for its work with homeless women and children, and in Sr Colette they were blessed with someone who had a pioneering spirit.
Born on January 31, 1918, Sr Colette lived through an amazing number of Irish and global changes including: 10 popes; 10 Irish Presidents; 15 Taoisigh; the closing months of World War I; World War II; the Vietnam War; the end of Apartheid in South Africa; the collapse of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany; the end of the USSR; the moon landings; the Troubles; the Good Friday Agreement; three distinct Irish currency changes and through the transition of the Irish Free State into a democratic Republic.
From a sporting perspective, she was also one of the few people who lived through and could remember when Waterford won their two All-Ireland senior hurling titles.
Sr Colette was named the very first Cork Person of the Year, in 1993, and was presented with the award by then Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.
Speaking to the Examiner, Cork Person of the Year Award organiser Manus O’Callaghan said: “She’s been a great friend to me since then [1993], because we were walking out of the hotel and I said to her if you ever need any help, let me know. The next morning she rang me, and I ended up sitting on the Edel House committee for the next 20 years."
Sr Jane Murphy, mission leader of Good Shepherd Cork, also paid tribute to Sr Colette and said: "She was deeply loved and respected by everybody. She was a County Waterford woman and she always would say that. But she saw her life in Cork."
A Book of Condolences was opened in Cork city for Sr Colette, which remains available for signing by members of the public in the Atrium of the Civic Offices on Anglesea Street from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, for the next two weeks.
In a tribute, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damian Boylan, said that Sr Colette’s passing was a profound loss, not just to those who knew her personally, but to the people of Cork, and the wider community that benefited from her life’s work.
“She will be remembered as a woman of deep compassion and unwavering commitment to those most in need.
“As the founder of Edel House, she created a place of shelter and sanctuary where dignity, respect, and hope could be restored to women and families facing homelessness and hardship.
“As well as providing practical help to those in need, Sr Colette also provided perhaps something more important - human kindness and understanding.
“She was, for many, a steady presence in times of crisis, someone who listened without judgment and acted with genuine care.” Boylan added that her vision and her efforts transformed lives.
“Her legacy is evident in the many lives she touched. Her spirit lives on in Edel House. May she rest in peace.”
Sr Colette is survived by her nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, great grand nieces and nephews, a great great grandnephew, extended family, her Good Shepherd Community, residents and staff in Baile an Aoire, and her many friends.
Her funeral mass took place on Friday in St Joseph’s Church in Mayfield, Cork, with burial afterwards at St Catherine’s Cemetery in Kilcully, Co Cork.
