Trailblazing Longford nun left lasting legacy in Texas

Sister Mary Eustace Farrell entered eternal life on December 1, 2022 at The Village at Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, just days before her 103rd birthday. She was one of six children born to William and Mary (Courtney) Farrell in Doory, Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland on December 5, 1919.

Sister Mary Eustace entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in 1937, professed first vows in 1941 and perpetual vows in 1946. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Incarnate Word College (now the University of the Incarnate Word), San Antonio, Texas and a Master of Science degree in Health Administration from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri.

She served for ten years as a nurse at St Mary’s Hospital, McAlester, Oklahoma; the Sisters’ Infirmary, San Antonio; Santa Rosa Hospital, San Antonio and Spohn Hospital, Corpus Christi. Subsequently she served as an Administrator at Santa Rosa Hospital, San Antonio; Spohn Hospital, Corpus Christi; St Joseph’s Hospital, Fort Worth; St John’s Hospital, San Angelo; St Anthony Hospital, Amarillo; and St Joseph’s Hospital, Paris, Texas.

When she retired from hospital administration, she became qualified as a hospital chaplain and served at Spohn Hospital, Corpus Christi, Texas. She retired to The Village at Incarnate Word in San Antonio in 2005.

In addition to her ministry as nurse, administrator and chaplain, she was very involved in the civic community where she lived. Among the many awards and honours she received are the following: “Who’s Who in American Women”; “Boss of the Year” by the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Paris, Texas; “Outstanding Administrator of the Year” by the Texas Hospital Association; first woman, first Catholic, first Sister to receive the Earl M Collier Award for distinguished hospital administration by the Texas Hospital Association, and President of the Texas Conference of Catholic Hospitals.

Sister Mary Eustace is preceded in death by her parents, William and Mary Farrell, her sisters, Anne (Ciss) Phelan and Christina Ganley and her brothers, Jim, Michael, Patrick, Sean and William. She is survived by her sister Margaret Whoriskey (Donegal) nieces, nephews, relatives and friends in Ireland, Australia and the United States, and by her community, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

Funeral services were held in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word on December 10, 2022, followed by interment in the Convent cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sister Mary Eustace’s memory may be made to the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, 4503 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209.