On August 15, 2012 at the Monastery of the Precious Blood in Hamilton, ON, Sister Shirlie Hennessey entered Eternal Life in the peace of the Lord and in the hope of Resurrection. Supported by our faithful chaplain, Father Dunn, her Sisters, family and the nursing staff, Sister Shirlie's earthly pilgrimage was completed in the 83rd year of her life and the 55th of her Religious Profession.
Sister Shirlie is survived by three sisters: Margaret (Bud - deceased) Hughes, Rosalie (Pat) Connolly, both of Charlottetown and Bernadine (Mac) Carter of Fredericton, NB. She was predeceased by her parents, Catherine (Costello) and Lawrence Hennessey; her brothers and sisters, Mary (Mame), Catherine (Tony) Doiron, Sister Anne Hennessey, RPB, Maurice Hennessey, Lorne (Pat) Hennessey and Ray Hennessey. Three other brothers, Michael, Joseph and another Lorne, died in infancy.
In the mid 1800's the Hennesseys travelled from Ireland and settled in Prince Edward Island, so the family have a very long "Island history". Sister Shirlie was born in Charlottetown, the 7th in her family. She attended St. Joseph Convent, staffed by the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame and later took an Accounting Course. Shirlie enjoyed life in those years, with her closely-knit family and friends. She was gifted with a beautiful singing voice and was active in her home parish, Holy Redeemer, staffed by the Redemptorist Fathers. In those years she actively participated in minstrel shows and other social gatherings.
The decision of her older sister, Anne, to become a Sister of the Precious Blood, undoubtedly influenced Shirlie, but it was five years before she herself made the decision to begin her religious life journey as a Precious Blood Sister. She served as superior, treasurer and in other capacities in Monasteries in Ontario and P.E.I. Due to serious health problems Sister Shirlie was transferred to Monastery health care facility in Hamilton in 2005.
Visitation will be held at the Precious Blood Monastery, 154 Northcliffe Avenue, Dundas, on Monday, August 20, from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A Prayer Vigil for Sister will be held at the Monastery at 7:30 p.m., Monday. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Monastery on Tuesday, August 21, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

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