PORTSMOUTH — Faithful Companion of Jesus Sister Mary Agnes O’Brien, 92, formerly of St. Philomena Convent, died Aug. 1, at Grand Islander Health Care Center, Middletown.
Baptized Bridget Mary Teresa O’Brien in County Limerick, Ireland, she was the daughter of the late Patrick and Mary (O’Brien) O'Brien.
Sister O’Brien attended a local elementary school before becoming a school boarder with the Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus at St. Mary Convent in Bruff, County Limerick. In September 1935 she became a postulant in the religious order at the international novitiate in Brussels, Belgium where she professed first vows on April 4, 1938. Three months later she was missioned to the United States. She taught at St. Joseph School, Fitchburg, Mass., until 1948 when she was sent to Blessed Sacrament Convent, Providence, and to teach at the former St. Patrick High School until 1954. She subsequently returned to Fitchburg where she taught middle school students for two decades. In 1974 she was missioned to St. Philomena School for a year before returning to Fitchburg to serve as principal of St. Joseph School for seven years.
Sister O’Brien then returned to Portsmouth, where she served as a catechist at St. Anthony Parish and served as a library aide at St. Philomena School.
She is survived by a niece and a nephew in Ireland, as well as several cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 5 in St. Philomena School Auditorium. Burial was in St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown.
