Founder of Edel House, Sr Colette Hickey, dies aged 108

Ireland’s oldest living woman, Sr Colette Hickey, passed away this week at the age of 108.

She passed away in the care of staff at the Bon Secours Care Village, Mt Desert on Tuesday.

Originally from Waterford, Sr Colette joined the Good Shepherd Sisters in 1936 at the age of 17.

In 1993, she was named the inaugural Cork Person of the Year, in recognition of her founding and running of Edel House, and her track record of providing immense charitable contributions across Cork city and county.

Sr Colette founded the shelter in 1972, and it has provided emergency accommodation for women and children - some of whom were in abusive home situations - and offered a range of supports to assist residents to move one and rebuild their lives ever since.

Sister Jane Murphy from Edel House said Sr Collette was an “inspiration to those that knew her”.

“She was a very kind, prayerful, and saintly woman, and most of all humble. She would always put any praise onto others, onto volunteers, staff, or board of management.

“She was always grateful for all the support which the organisation has been given by the people of Cork. She was a strong, but gentle woman,” she said.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Damien Boylan paid tribute to Sr Colette, and her “deep compassion and unwavering commitment to those most in need”.

“Sr Colette’s passing is 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 was, for many, a steady presence in times of crisis, someone who listened without judgement and acted with genuine care.

“As well as providing practical help to those in need, Sr Colette also provided perhaps something more important - human kindness and understanding.

“Her vision and her efforts transformed lives. Her legacy is evident in the many lives she touched. Her spirit lives on in Edel House,” he said.

The Cork Person of the Year award committee said Sr Colette was a “remarkable woman whose dedication, compassion and service touched countless lives throughout Cork and beyond”.

Sr Colette will be reposing in Mayfield Funeral Home on Thursday, 25 June, from 5pm to 6pm.

A requiem mass will be held at 11am on Friday, 26 June in St Joseph’s Church, Mayfield, with funeral afterwards to St Catherine’s Cemetery, Kilcully.