Sister Richard Marie Toal

She was born in Camden, New Jersey on February 22, 1916 as Mary Margaret Teresa Toal to Richard and Mary Toal. She was fifth of eight children. In 1937, Mary Margaret Teresa Toal entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of St Francis in Cyracuse, NY.

Entrance to Sisters of St. Francis: February 2, 1937

Investiture: August 21, 1937

First Profession: August 26, 1939

Final Profession: August 26, 1942

In 1940, Sister completed Nurses’ training at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Utica, NY.; then worked at St. Elizabeth’s for 23 years as nurse, supervisor and instructor. She then spent two years studying at Catholic University earning a Master’s Degree in Nursing.

1960 brought Sister Richard Marie to Bishop Home Kalaupapa. (Sister entered Sisters of St. Francis to work in Kalaupapa!) She returned to work at the Motherhouse for two years, and then returned to Kalaupapa where the residents affectionately called her ‘Mother’.

Her hobbies included fishing (caught fish was given away) and making crafts especially drift wood arrangements.

Sister Richard Marie Toal was featured on two pages of the book MOLOKAI AN ISLAND IN TIME by Richard A Cook III. In it she was described as “a friend to all” and truly she was and is!

Sister Richard Marie Toal was also featured in the National Geographic Magazine.

Sister Toal is survived by sister-in-law, Pat Toal; nephew, Sean (Barbie); niece, Charlene (Rick) Templeton; cousins; special family friends, Joe and Peggy Linnemann, and the Sisters of St. Francis.

Memorial services will be held at St. Francis Convent, at 2715 Pamoa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 on February 8, 2013. Visitation is at 3:15 pm. Services is at 4:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Retirement Fund at 2715 Pamoa Road Honolulu, HI 96822.