Sr. Tryphonia Joanes

Sr. Tryphonia Joanes R.I.P.

By The Congregation of The Sisters of Mercy, South Central Province

Sr. Tryphonia Joanes died peacefully in Catherine McAuley House, Beaumont, Dublin, on the morning of Wednesday 20th July 2022, where she was lovingly cared for by the staff and sisters since 27th September 2018, when she moved from Beaumont Convent.

Tryphonia Juliana Joanes was born in Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa, on 18th October, 1938. She was the fourth born of eight children. Her father was Nicholau Sebastio Alias Conceicao Piedade Joanes and her mother’s name was Rosalina Trindade. When she was 18 years old Tryphonia’s mother died and she helped care for her younger siblings. Tryphonia is predeceased by her brothers Custodio, Max and Ulrico, all of whom lived in England for much of their adult years. Her sisters Antoinette Vaz (Canada) and Marcella Lobo (Canada) are deceased. Her remaining sisters Candida (Candy) Shantz and Maria Lynch live in Canada.

Sr. Tryphonia was one of a small group of young women whose ancestors came from Goa in India and who joined the Sisters of Mercy in Kenya in the early 1960s, a few years after the first Mercy pioneers went to Kenya from Dublin. She entered the convent at Carysfort Park, Blackrock, Dublin on 18th February 1962, made First Profession on 9th September 1964 and Final Profession on 9th September 1967.

In 1968, she completed her general nurse training at St. Michael’s Hospital, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin and returned to work in the Mater Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya until 1974. She spent the next two years developing the rural dispensary and mobile clinic in Kibwezi, a busy location distant from the capital. She returned to the Mater, Nairobi in 1976 and the need for trained midwives brought her back to Ireland to complete her midwifery training at Our Lady of Lourdes Missionary Training Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth in 1979. She returned to the clinic in Kibwezi for a couple of years, then to Makadara clinic in Nairobi and later to the clinic in Makueni, a rural area in the Eastern Province.

Throughout her life Tryphonia’s Goan heritage was very important to her. She established close ties with relatives in Goa and hoped to see a Mercy foundation there. She helped draft a proposal for consideration by the first South Central Province Chapter in 1995, asking for the establishment of a mission in Goa. While this was not feasible, she was given the opportunity to do pastoral ministry and spent considerable time in Goa, especially between 2006 and 2015.

In spite of having some serious health challenges, Tryphonia’s internal spirit was never dimmed. Her quiet disposition masked a bright intellect and glimpses of her wit and wisdom appeared at unexpected moments. She had a deep faith and longed to share that with others. This enabled her to spend much time at a house of prayer in Lifford, Donegal, between 1997 and 2004.

We extend our sympathy to her sisters Candy and Maria, to her many nieces, nephews and extended family, to her Mercy community and to all in Catherine McAuley House. May she rest in peace.

Congregation of The Sisteres of Mercy, South Central Province