CHARLESTON—Sister Brendan Lacey, a Sister of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, died July 3 at May Forest, the congregation’s motherhouse. She was 105 and in her 89th year of religious life.
The Mass of Christian burial will be held at May Forest chapel on July 6 at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the motherhouse, 424 Fort Johnson Road on James Island, July 5 from 2-5 p.m. A vigil service will follow at 6 p.m.
Sister Brendan was born Elizabeth Lacey on March 14, 1908, one of seven children of James and Johanna O’Toole Lacey in Lisbigney, Abbeleix in County Leix, Ireland. She was a graduate of St. Francis Xavier School of Nursing in Charleston and received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mt. St. Joseph’s College in Cincinnati, Ohio. Two of her sisters were members of the Sisters of Good Shepherd, a French congregation, and served in India.
In August 1924, Sister Brendan arrived in New York then sailed to Charleston, and entered the convent on Aug. 23, 1924. She professed her first vows on April 18, 1927, and final vows March 25, 1949. As a registered nurse, Sister Brendan cared for the sick at St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Charleston and at Divine Savior Hospital and Nursing Home in York. She also served as the local superior of the City Orphan Home. After retiring from nursing Sister Brendan ministered to the sick in the pastoral care departments of St. Francis Xavier and Divine Savior hospitals as a “sister visitor” and participated in the prayer ministry of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Simpsonville and at home in the community of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy.
In appreciation for her dedicated service, the City of York honored Sister Brendan by proclaiming Sept. 28, 1984, “Sister Brendan’s Day” and in 1996, Divine Savior Church of York, named the parish life center, Brendan Hall in honor of her service to the people. She also received a papal honor from Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, for her dedicated service to the Lord.
Sister Brendan is survived by her community, the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy and nieces, nephews, and cousins in Ireland and New York.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Services, PO Box 607, Johns Island, SC 29457.