Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....McCourt, Sister Irene October 18, 1918
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Dorothy Strawhand http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008405 November 18, 2024, 1:31 pm

Norfolk Ledger Dispatch October 19, 1918

                          SISTER IRENE McCOURT

Sister Irene McCourt, who had been connected with St. Vincent's Hospital, this 
city, for fifty-four years passed away there last evening, in her 77th year, her 
death being due to pneumonia., following an illness of two weeks.
At her bedside when the end came were the Sisters of St. Vincent's, who answered 
the prayers for the dying as they were said by Rev. Father P.P. Brennan, of St. 
Mary's Catholic Church.
Sister Irene was a native of Baltimore and came to Norfolk about the close of 
the Civil War. She was with the hospital from its foundation and helped to make 
it the great institution it is today.
She was a lady of very beautiful life and character, gentle, refined and of the 
most cordial and kindly nature and her death brings to her many friends the 
deepest regret and a sense of great personal loss. 
Sister Irene had charge of the pharmacy at St. Vincent's for more than half a 
century and was an expert pharmacist, one of the very best. It is said that she 
superintended the filling and filled more prescriptions herself than any other 
pharmacist in the state; and despite her age was actively engaged in her life's 
work up to the time or her last illness.
During the War Between the States she did actual service on the battlefield; 
nursed the wounded and helped bury the dead. Her life was spent in a loving 
ministry of helpfulness to humanity and she leaves a memory fragrant with the 
aroma of her kindly deeds.
The funeral services will be conducted privately by Right Rev. Monsignor 
O'Ferrall, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, at 10 o'clock tomorrow (Sunday) 
morning at the graveside in St. Mary's Cemetery.
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Sister Irene was a veteran of the Civil War. She did actual service on the 
battlefield. She nursed the wounded and helped bury the dead. She labored in a 
hospital in Philadelphia during a part of the Civil War where hundreds of 
wounded soldiers were brought for attention.
She has often spoken of the Civil War. She used her experience to comfort the 
injured man or woman who would be brought to St. Vincent's for treatment.
When a man or woman complained of some wound, Sister Irene would encourage them 
by saying they would get well and that they must bear a little pain for a few 
days. Then she would tell them how she had seen men more terribly wounded than 
the patients, who did not complain of their injuries, but were thankful that the 
were alive and would soon get well. 

Additional comments from article in  Virginian Pilot and The Norfolk Landmark 
October 19, 1918  
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The funeral of Sister Irene McCourt, whose death occurred last Friday evening, 
took place yesterday morning at 9 o’clock, services being conducted by Monsignor 
O’Farrell. Among those present at the services were: Rev. J. Garcia, Rev. R. A. 
Drake, Rev. George W. Dunn, Rev. Robert Kealy, Rev. Vincent Warren, Rev. F. P. 
Brennan and Rev. Thomas Waters. The flowers were exceptionally lovely and 
numerous.
Funeral services took place at the grave, St. Mary’s cemetery, the pallbearers 
being A. J. Smith, M. T. Friary, M. J. Murphy, H. D. Oliver, C. B. Carroll and 
James J. Brounley.

Virginian-Pilot and The Norfolk Landmark  October 21, 1918

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