Vale Sister Gillian SSA

All within the immediate and wider communities of the SSA schools, St Margaret’s and St Aidan’s, will share the grief of her passing.

Sister Gillian was professed on 22 July 1995. She led the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent briefly in 2006/2007 and again from 2017 to 2023 after Mother Eunice stepped down. In her usual humble fashion, Sister Gillian insisted that she still be referred to as Sister, in honour of Mother’s longstanding leadership of the order. In 2023, under the new constitution of the SSA, Sister Gillian became co-leader of the order with Sister Gillian Moses and Sister Jan Crombie.

It is a blessing that Sister Gillian, in recent years, lived to see the restoration of the Sisters Chapel and the renovation and repurposing of Community House at St Margaret’s. With great vision, together with Sister Sandra, she instigated changes to the SSA constitution, which meant that the SSA will continue to live out their ethos in innovative ways, holding firm to their commitment to the spirituality and leadership of women and girls.

Sister Gillian was named Patron of St Margaret’s on St Margaret’s Day in 2022. When interviewed on that day, she emphasised how deeply linked her identity was to the community of the SSA and her pride in representing this community. An ordained priest since 1999, Sister Gillian very much enjoyed this aspect of her role and particularly relished the ministry at Crows Nest.

Whenever she could, Sister Gillian attended St Aidan’s and St Margaret’s school events, especially enjoying the wonderful musical performances by both schools. She was a faithful attendee at St Aidan’s annual Ascension Day celebrations, and in recent weeks, Sister Gillian attended the 2026 St Margaret’s Day celebrations and the reunion weekend.

Sister Gillian’s familiar and gentle presence, her quiet strength, her deep faith, and her enduring service to the SSA and to St Margaret’s and St Aidan’s will be greatly missed but forever remembered.

Once known, we will advise the community of funeral arrangements.

Please keep Sister Gillian, her three children, the Society of the Sacred Advent and all who loved her in your prayers at this time.

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon her.