Sister Margherite celebrates her 100th birthday in Carrick-on Suir

Sister Margherite Veale celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her extended family.

She was born on May 20 1923 in Tramore, county Waterford.

She was the eldest in her family with three sisters and one brother. 

She started her primary school education in Tramore and when the family moved to Dublin, she continued primary school in the city. After two years of secondary school in Dublin , she went to boarding school in Carrick- on-Suir. 

After her Leaving Certificate, she entered the Order. She was living in Tramore when the war broke out and remembers it vividly.  At 28 years of age, she went to California, where she was a teacher in El Cerrito until her mid 60’s. She followed that by working as a religion co-ordinator for the parish of St Phillip Neri and St Albert the Great in Alameda until she was 77 years. 

She then retired to Carrick on Suir where she resides with the Sisters of Mercy Convent.

CENTURY OF STORIES

She is known to her family as Nancy and she is loved by each and every one of them because she is compassionate, intelligent, funny and interesting. 

She has a century of stories and a great memory to recall them. She still keeps up to date with current affairs, sports and family news.  She credits her longevity and well-being to having an attitude of acceptance. She has always put trust in her faith and accepts what comes to pass.

She was presented with the Centenarian Bounty by Bishop Cullinane. From her extended family, she received a stone seat with an inscription dedicated to her, to mark the celebration of her 100 years on God’s earth.