Thomas More Fahey, February 14, 1936 – February 10, 2023
Thomas More Fahey, a Sister of the Good Shepherd in the New York/ Toronto Province, returned to her Shepherd God early Friday morning, February 10, 2023, at the Ozanam Hall Rehabilitation facility in Bayside, New York.
Sister Thomas experienced failing health since early December, 2022. Despite her efforts to recoup, her body would not respond. In the end, she died of Covid-related issues.
Sister Thomas was born in the Bronx, the youngest daughter of Thomas Fahey and Katherine (Wallace), both from County Galway, Ireland. She is survived by her three nieces and nephews who recently held a wonderful family celebration on her 60-year Jubilee in religious life.
Sister Thomas was proud to be educated by the Ursulines Sisters. She received her degree in English and Education from Fordham University, and a Doctor of Psychology from Pace University. She entered the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in November, 1962.
Sister Thomas was a trained spiritual director, having studied at a Jesuit Director’s training program in England. She worked for a number of years at Inisfada, the Jesuit Retreat House on Long Island, and in other locations providing spiritual direction and related programs including the Spiritual Direction program at St Francis Xavier Church in New York City. She was also a regular retreat director at the Jesuit Retreat House in Gloucester, Ma.
Sister Thomas ministered in several Good Shepherd residential schools as principal and, more recently, at Madonna Heights on Long Island, as a psychologist. She was Executive Director at the Consultation Service for Religious in Rockville Center Long Island, and consulted at the Rockville Center Marriage Tribunal.
Sister Thomas continued her ministry of spiritual direction right up to the end, calling clients from her cell phone in the rehabilitation facility to offer wisdom and encouragement.
To say that Sr. Thomas enjoyed this ministry is an understatement. It gave her renewed energy and deepened her own love for her vocation. Sister Thomas will be missed by her family and many friends and members of the Good Shepherd Community.
We celebrate her life and bid her farewell. We pray that she may rest in peace.
Submitted by Maureen McGowan, RGS | March 2023