Sister Mary Brendan Stack, IHM1886 - 1961

Sister Mary Brendan was born Ellen Mary Stack in Broguemakers Lane, Tralee on 26 April 1886. Throughout her life, she was known to her family as “Elsie”

In 1898, together with her siblings, following the death of her mother, she entered the Pembroke Alms Industrial School in Tralee which was run by the Sisters of Mercy.

She remained at the Industrial School until 1903, in which year she travelled to Los Angeles to join the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent.

Sister Mary Brendan was baptised by Bishop Sullivan of Killarney at St John’s, Tralee, Co Kerry on 1 May 1886.

RMS Carpathia

Ellen Mary sailed from Queenstown, Cobh (Co Cork) aboard the SS Carpathia with 21 other young Irish coleens (described as "postulants"), arriving at Ellis Island on 11 November 1903. From there they travelled by rail to Los Angeles arriving on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday 26 November 1903.

Manifest of the "Carpathia" (1903). Ellen (Elsie) Mary Stack is shown

en-route to New York ( line 7).

The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary consecrate their lives to promote the honour and glory of God, to labour for the salvation of souls, to spread devotion to the Mother of God, and to pray especially for the conversion of sinners.

These ends were in the mind of Father Joaquin Masmitja when he founded the Daughters of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Sister Mary Brendan with her class in Cuba where she taught between 1911 and 1914, at which time she was "exiled under protest by a Spanish General". She noted that she was an "innocent victim of political intrigue"

Sister Mary Brendan Stack's Bachelor of Arts awarded 1935

Sister Mary Brendan with Monsignor James E Dolan at the dedication in 1957 of a new retreat, La Casa de María, in Montecito near Santa Barbara, California (below).

Sister Mary Brendan on a TWA flight to Shannon Airport, Ireland in 1957 which flew over the North Pole and took 19 hours and 26 minutes.

This was her only visit home to the Erin Isle.

Sister Mary Brendan recalled that her original trip to Los Angeles in 1903 had taken 17 days by sea and railway.

Sister Mary Brendan (left) with Sister Mary Julia Gutierrez, a distant cousin of the famous Leo Carrillo, from the families of early Californians

The IHM Motherhouse in Los Angeles

Sister Mary Brendan with her sister Mary (on her left) in 1957. The others have not yet been identified.

Sister Mary Brendan with her sister Mary (right) in 1957. The others have yet to be identified.

Sister Mary Brendan with her sister Mary (seated) in 1957. The others have not been identified.

Sister Mary Brendan with John and Janie Walton during her visit to Crawley (England) in 1957.

Last resting place of Sister Mary Brendan Stack: Calgary Cemetery, Los Angeles, California

Sister Mary Brendan died in 1961. An extract from her obituary, prepared by the Immaculate Heart Convent reads: "God called her from our midst with very little warning on July 12, 1961. Hundreds of grief-stricken former pupils and friends flocked to Immaculate Heart Convent to pay their last tribute to one who in joy or sorrow had always shown interest, sympathy and love".

Sister Mary Brendan Stack, IHM 1886-1961