Sister Elizabeth CSF (23 Feb 1931 - 9 Sep 2023)

Elizabeth and I, as then Brother Keith, lived with for a time (between 1982 and 1988) in the then newish Friary in Halcrow Street, Stepney, having known her since I joined ssf mid 69. I think I still have a copy of the notes of her series of lectures on the Spiritual History of the Church (0-C20) given to us Hilfield novices (in c70) - a thoroughly competent whiz through the notable figures and features of the centuries ~ apologetically provided by her because she never finished even one the lectures; “There was always far too much to tell!” As a team player she was a delight to live with in community; faithful, cooperative, helpful and supportive, while also disciplined, quite private and often great fun. I think she enjoyed living with men ~ as a consequence of her relationship with her father / brother? In one of those rare, quite personable one-to-ones one may have with such an introvert, once trust exists, I ventured to enquire about her voice. She raised her forefinger to her mouth ~ as she often did when thinking carefully ~ smiled, and (slightly more squeakily than usual) said, ”We’ll my dear, it was like this . . “ and went on to explain that after the mocking she received at school for being 'different,' she decided to discover something about it. Research into ‘in-utero growth' led her to discover that during pregnancy, the development of the larynx and voice of a foetus take place in the same week as the two bones in the forearm (radius and ulna) separate [some will recall how she always held prayer books and hymn books with her palms, unusually, facing down. She couldn't turn her palms up! Fascinated by this she asked her mother if anything marked that particular week in her pregnancy. Quite shocked, her mother replied, Yes, she had fallen down some concrete steps, and her baby's heart had stopped. They thought that she'd lost her child. Three days of bed-rest and ardent prayer later, by which time termination surgery was being seriously considered, the heart began beating again. "So you see, my dear," she concluded, "I've got a bit missing ~ but we all have; mine's just a bit more obvious. If we try not to mind too much, and allow ourselves to be really loved, it really doesn't matter." Thus began our friendship on quite another level!
Great wisdom ~ Great lady ~ Great lover!

Ah dear Elizabeth guided me through some twists and turns of religious life 35 years ago and I feel very blessed to have crossed her path. For her zeal, her passion and her wise discernment. May she be remembered with great love and gratitude.

I first met Sr Elizabeth in 1965 during a ‘Contact Week’ with the West London Student Chaplaincy. I was studying at the Royal College of Music and lived in Queen Alexandra’s House, a student hostel where Elizabeth also stayed for the week. We kept in touch right through my life after that - she became my Spiritual Director, them met my husband and became his Director also as he trained for Ordination and then started out on many years as a Parish Priest, Hospital Chaplain and Minor Canon of Exeter Cathedral.

Elizabeth faithfully visited us wherever we went and got to know our two little boys who enjoyed sitting on her lap and being allowed to tug on her girdle! The cottages at Compton Durville hold happy memories for me too - as a student on Retreat with Ivor Smith Cameron, Ron Diss and Brother Columba and later for a family holiday when our toddler son excitedly called out ‘Sister’ every time he spotted a brown habit in the distance. Over the years I visited Elizabeth whenever I was in London and the last time I saw her she was happily settled in Plaistow, still loving being in London and hearing all the news of the parish around her.

Our boys are grown up now with families of their own and we are retired in Lichfield. But we shall never forget Elizabeth for her humour, her wisdom and her faithfulness and we thank God for her example, her prayers and her friendship.

Mother Elizabeth was Mother when I was at Compton Durville in the early 80's.. So sorry to hear of her passing.