Mary Gertrude Joyce facts for kids

Sister Mary Gertrude Joyce was an Irish nun and a talented musician. Her birth name was Margaret Alice Joyce. She was born on January 18, 1884, and passed away on March 1, 1964. She was a member of the Sisters of Mercy, a group of Catholic nuns.

Early Life and Family Connections

Margaret Alice Joyce was born in Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland. This was on January 18, 1884. She was one of ten children in her family. Her parents were John Stanislaus Joyce and Mary Murray.

Margaret was related to a famous Irish leader, Daniel O'Connell. Her older brother, James Joyce, became a very famous writer. He was about 18 months older than her. James called her "Poppie." This nickname came from a red cloak she often wore. Many people believed she was his favorite sister.

Growing Up in Dublin

The Joyce family moved many times in Dublin and Bray. This was because her father's money situation changed often. Margaret received her early education from a family governess. Later, she attended St Catherine's Dominican Convent. She also studied at Dominican College, Eccles Street.

When Margaret was 19, her mother passed away in 1903. After this, Margaret took on the important job of caring for her younger brothers and sisters. She worked hard to provide for them. She also helped her brother James with his travel plans. She even tried to help him get along better with their father.

Becoming a Nun and Moving to New Zealand

On August 20, 1909, Margaret decided to become a nun. She joined the Convent of Mercy Missionary College in Callan, County Kilkenny, Ireland. She had thought about becoming a nun in Germany. However, her brother James suggested she go to New Zealand instead.

Margaret left Ireland for New Zealand on November 10, 1909. James was in Dublin and saw her off. He promised that if she ever wanted to return, he would send her the money for the trip. She never went back to Ireland. She also never saw her family again.

Life in the Convent

On December 30, 1909, she entered the Convent of Mercy in Greymouth, New Zealand. She officially received her nun's habit on July 13, 1910. At this time, she took the name Sister Mary Gertrude. She made her final vows on July 13, 1912.

From 1912 to 1949, Sister Mary Gertrude taught music. She taught piano, violin, and singing. She taught in Greymouth and Runanga. Later, she moved to Papanui, Christchurch. There, she taught boys at Loreto College. She continued teaching almost until the very end of her life.

Sister Mary Gertrude Joyce passed away on March 1, 1964. She was 80 years old. She died in Calvary Hospital in Christchurch. She was buried in Waimairi cemetery in Christchurch. Before she died, she asked for her letters and photos to be destroyed. This included many letters from her brother James. It is believed she did not read any of her brother's famous books until 1962.