Sr Isabel addressing a CoR meeting on human trafficking in Manchester in 2019
Sr Isabel looking down from her room where she’d been shielding since March 2020
Sr Isabel Kelly FMSJ, who was well known to the Religious of England and Wales for her unstinting efforts to raise awareness of human trafficking, has died. Sr Isabel passed away on Friday (May 28th) at her convent in Blackburn where she’d been shielding since the start of the pandemic. She was 87.
Sr Nuala McGarvey FMSJ, who’s also based in Blackburn, said Sr Isabel passed away peacefully after her family from Scotland had been to visit: “Sister Isabel was always writing something or to someone. Many of the Sisters commentated on how quiet our phones had become in the past fortnight, as she began to deteriorate; she was forever sending something amusing from the Internet or some petition to sign. Things won't be so peaceful "up there" from now on! Yes, she was a remarkable character who kept at her mission to the end. May she rest in peace.”
Sr Isabel addressing a meeting in Formby
Sr Isabel had spoken passionately at several meetings held in 2019 and 2020, to highlight the curse of modern slavery. She also wrote some very thoughtful articles, reflecting on doing God’s will and also on the nature of friendship. In fact she’d also written a book about her long years overseas and used any proceeds to help victims of trafficking.
As a tribute, we reproduce some of her articles below:
I will pray, talk about trafficking and keep my eyes open:
http://bit.ly/2Uw4aF6
A tribute to life long friendship:
http://bit.ly/2U4c8Re
A reflection on doing God’s will:
https://bit.ly/3heOgp9
Prayer of St John Henry Newman:
May He support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest and peace at the last.
Requiescat in Pace