Josephine KAVENEY (Sister Mary Josepha) [11622]

  General Notes:

NZ Birth 1891/12204 Kavanagh Josephine, Jane Dominic Joseph (Note: registration name Kavanagh)
NZ Death 1920/6878 Kaveney Josephine 28y

OTAGO DAILY TIMES, ISSUE 14160, 12 MARCH 1908
TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC.
RESULT OF THEORETICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Miss Barth, secretary of the Dunedin Centre of Trinity College of Music, London, has received intimation of the following results of the theoretical examinations which were held in Dunedin in December last: -
. . . Junior Honours: . . . Josephine Kaveney 82 (Convent High School, South Dunedin). . . .

New Zealand Tablet 24 August 1911
DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN
On Tuesday, the Octave of the Feast of the Assumption, Miss May O'Malley (in religion Sister .Mary Ita), daughter of Mr. J. O'Malley, of Naseby, and Miss Josephine Kaveney (Sister Mary Josepha), daughter of Mrs. Kaveney, of Wrey's .Bush, received the habit of the Order of Our 'Lady of Mercy in the Convent Chapel, South Dunedin. . His Lordship the Bishop officiated, and was assisted by Rev. Father Delany. After the ceremony the parents and friends of the novices were entertained by the Sisters.

Final Vows as Sister of Mercy: 8 September 1913

New Zealand Tablet Thursday 11 Sepember 1913
DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN
. . . . On Monday, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, an impressive ceremony of profession and reception was held in the chapel of the Convent of Mercy, South Dunedin. His Lordship the Bishop officiated, and was assisted by Rev. Fathers Delany (South Dunedin), Corcoran (St. Joseph's Cathedral), and Rev. B. Kaveney, brother of one of the newly professed. The novices who pronounced their final vows as members of the Order of Mercy were Miss Margaret Lynch (Sister M. Gerard), Miss Mary O'Malley (Sister M. Ita), and Miss Josephine Kaveney (Sister M. Josepha). The young ladies who received the holy habit were Miss Margaret O'Mahoney (in religion, Sister M. Paschal), Miss Ethel Clark (in religion, Sister M. Colombiere), and Miss Julia Martin (in religion, Sister Nolasco). The occasional music was beautifully rendered by the Sisters' choir. After the ceremony, the many relatives and friends of the young Sisters, who were present, were entertained at dejeuner by the Sisters of Mercy.

Evening Star 7 & 8 December 1920
Death Notice:
KAVENEY. --On December 7th, 1920, at the Convent of Mercy, South Dunedin, Sister Mary Josepha Kaveney, the second daughter of Mrs Kaveney, Wrey's Bush, Southland, and sister of Rev. Father Kaveney, of St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin R.I.P. Requiem Mass on Thursday, 9th inst., at 9.30 a.m., at South Dunedin Basilica, Private interment. Hugh Gourley, undertaker.

New Zealand Tablet 9 December 1920
Death Notice:
KAVENEY. '97At the Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, South Dunedin, on December 7, 1920, Sister Mary Josepha Kaveney, in the 29th year of her age and eighth of her Religions Profession. '97R.I.P.

New Zealand Tablet 16 December 1920
OBITUARY
Sister Mary Josepha (Kaveney), South Dunedin.
On Tuesday morning, December 7, Sister Mary Josepha passed away happily and peacefully at the Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, South Dunedin. Deceased, who was the daughter of Mrs. Kaveney, Wrey's Bush, after receiving her primary education at St. Joseph's School near her home, became a student at St. Philomena's College, South Dunedin, where for five years her talents were carefully cultivated. Being from childhood endowed with a pious temperament, the first promptings of a vocation to the religious state made themselves felt at an early age. Under wise direction and gentle encouragement the desire of devoting herself entirely to God's service took definite shape in 1911, when, immediately after leaving the college, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy. During the years of probation she exhibited in greater fulness the virtues which all along had marked her out as one called to "the better part." and on September 8 1913, she had the happiness of making her final vows as a Sister of Mercy. For seven years she earnestly laboured in the schools of her Order at Dunedin, Alexandra, and Mosgiel until three months ago, when she was stricken with illness. Everything that medical skill and careful nursing could do was done for the dear sufferer, but from the first her case was hopeless - the Master's second call had come - resignedly and willingly she prepared to answer it. Fortified by all the sacred rites of Holy Church, consoled by frequent visits of sympathy from her brother (Rev. Father Kaveney), and from many kind clerical friends, and surrounded by every care that affection could suggest, she joyfully awaited the final summons to her eternal home. Her death was singularly beautiful: fully conscious to the last moment, she expired in sight of the temporary altar, where the Holy Sacrifice had four times been offered for her, just as her brother finished his Mass; her community, her mother and sister, kneeling round the deathbed were deeply impressed, and the grief which they naturally felt for the early demise of one who had given such bright promise of a useful and edifying career was moderated by the reflection that God, in whose hands our lives and destinies repose, saw fit to give the fervent little Sister her reward so soon. May her pure soul rest in peace. On Thursday morning, Solemn Requiem Mass was offered for Sister Mary Josepha in St. Patrick's Basilica. Rev. Father O'Reilly (Port Chalmers) was celebrant, Rev. D.V. Silk deacon, Rev. E. Lynch (Holy Cross College (subdeacon), and Very Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., master of cememonies. The Gregorian music of the Mass was devotionally rendered by the children of St. Vincent's Orphanage. The following clergy were present in the sanctuary: Right Rev. Dr Liston, Rev. J. Eccleton, S.M., Very Rev. J. Lynch (Wrey's Bush), Rev. J.P. Delany, Rev. R. Graham (South Dunedin), Rev. Dr. Kelly, Rev. C. Collins (Holy Cross College), Rev. D. Buckley (Riverton), Rev. B. Kaveney (St. Joseph's Cathedral), Rev. C. Ardagh, Rev. F. Marlow (Cathedral), Rev. W. Monaghan (Riversdale), Rev. M. Spillane (Invercargill), Rev. M. Shore. Shorly after Mass the funeral cortege left the Basilica for the Southern Cemetery, where the interment took place. The pall-bearers were Rev. Fathers Kaveney, Eccleton, S.M., Collins, Spillane, Howard and Ardagh. Right Rev. Dr. Liston, Coadjutor-Bishop of Auckland, officiated at the graveside. -- R.I.P.

  Research Notes:

OTAGO DAILY TIMES, ISSUE 14160, 12 MARCH 1908
TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC.
RESULT OF THEORETICAL EXAMINATIONS.
Miss Barth, secretary of the Dunedin Centre of Trinity College of Music, London, has received intimation of the following results of the theoretical examinations which were held in Dunedin in December last: '97
. . .
Junior Honours.
. . . Josephine Kaveney 82 (Convent Hig'i .School, South Dunedin). . . .

  Other Records

• Sister Mary Josepha: Her Life, 1920, Sisters of Mercy, Dunedin, NZ. (Image Courtesy of Necrology of Sisters of Mercy, Dunedin)

• Sister Mary Josepha: Obit, 1920, Dunedin.