Sister Richard Marie Toal, at her 94th birthday celebration, holds a picture of Bishop Estates convent in Kalaupapa where she served for 40 years. Photo courtesy of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
It was two weeks ago today that Sister Richard Marie Toal, a former nurse in Kalaupapa, celebrated her 94th birthday.
She worked in the footsteps of Mother Marianne Cope for 40 years as a Franciscan nun for the order of the Sisters of St. Francis, serving the Hansen’s disease patients at the Kalaupapa settlement. At her birthday celebration, Sister Richard Marie spoke about how she would sweep leaves and leave flowers at the grave of Mother Marianne, who is now being considered for sainthood. A stroke five years ago forced Sister Richard Marie to leave Kalaupapa to live in a Manoa convent where she still resides.
During her birthday celebration she held a photo of the Bishop Home convent in Kalaupapa that she had cared for and loved for so many years.
Filed under: Kalaupapa and Father Damien
