A tribute for Young’s loving Sister ‘Dom’

Among them was Sister Dominica Sheahan, who now resides at the Mercy Care Retirement Village in Young, and who has left a lasting impression on Young and Cootamundra communities.

Her brother, Jim Sheahan, and his daughter Carmel, sister-in-law Frances, Anne Quinn and god-daughter Margaret Daley and her husband Bob all joined Sister Dominica on the day in celebrating the milestone.

A fellow sister and friend, Kate McCarthy, rsm – who many will remember as Sister Bede and who now works in pastoral care in Sydney – wrote a special tribute to ‘Dom’, as she is fondly known, that was read out on the night.

Sister Bede first met Dom during her nurse training at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Cootamundra, in the 1950s when Dom was one of the young nursing sisters in the convent.

Dom was later appointed Matron and then Superior of the Mercy, as the Sacred Heart Hospital became known.

“You were lovable, loving and full of fun, a very competent midwife and ward sister,” the tribute read.

“Patients, families and staff, board members and auxiliary ladies held you in high regard and co-operated cheerfully to achieve great things for the local community of Cootamundra.”

One special dream that became a reality for the Sisters of Mercy was the building of Bethany, the first beautifully appointed nursing home for the religious Sisters in Cootamundra and throughout the Canberra-Goulburn Congregation.

Dom often put herself ‘on call’ for ‘after hours’ emergencies, not only in the hospital but also in Bethany for the very ill or dying sisters.

Sister Bede said she had a tremendous respect for priests and made great efforts to help them practically and to care for them in their diminishing health. 

“Great examples of this were when I lived with you in the community at Young,” she wrote, “You dedicated yourself to the frail aged retired priests, one being a dear family friend, Fr. O’Herlihy. 

“You assisted them as they offered the mass each day – you were better than any acolyte, you could have been the first Mercy Priest!”

Dom was the first of the nursing nuns to live in a unit in the Mercy Care Retirement Village in Young. 

She had an ‘open door’ and warm welcome for any of the sisters and family whenever they called in for a visit or to have a bed. 

“You will be remembered for many things Dom, amongst which will be your outstanding generosity, kindness and hospitality,” the tribute read.

“Whenever any of your religious sisters were sick, dying or experiencing the death of their loved ones, you reached out in mercy and compassion as you still do,” Sister Bede said.

“Thank you for this and so much more.”