Matt Croad
The grand old dame previously known as St Catherine s Convent will soon start her next chapter of life in Picton.
A historic Picton villa built for a German sea captain, converted to convent and maintained through the decades by donations has gone on the market. The Wellington St property, still bearing a cross on its roof from its days as a nuns’ convent, will go under the hammer next month at the ripe old age of 141.
Matt Croad
Carefully restored, and not for the first time, the Picton property still has the character of its heyday in the 1880s.
The sisters 140-year presence ended in Blenheim last year ended when the last two Sisters of Mercy, Sister Susanna Kraus and Sister Elizabeth Mary left last year retired to Wellington and Christchurch. A farewell is organised on Sunday at St Mary s Catholic Church to thank them for their legacy and their work for the community during the past 140 years.
Supplied Petersen remembers two sweet dedicated women. “Sister Suzanna has a great gift for sewing. She would always make habits, banners for the church, clothes for the community . She was really gifted in this area. “Sister Elizabeth Mary was more a talker, she was very good at leading services and visiting the sick at the hospital or in rest homes,” Petersen said.