Venerable Suzanne Aubert was honoured in a ceremony at the Pukeahu War Memorial in Wellington on October 5, the 92nd anniversary of her funeral.
As part of the Wellington City Council’s recently introduced Heritage Plaques scheme, a plaque acknowledging Mother Aubert was unveiled outside the creche in the Pukeahu War Memorial in Buckle Street.
(From left) Cardinal John Dew, Nicola Young and Sr Margaret Anne Mills, DOLC, with the plaque honouring Venerable Suzanne Aubert. (Photo: Courtesy of Wellington City
Council).
The first Heritage Plaque, honouring radio personality Maud Basham (Aunt Daisy), was unveiled last month and another, in memory of writer Iris Wilkinson (Robin Hyde) is planned for later in October.
The Council’s Heritage Plaque scheme launch coincided with the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand, so it was decided to honour three women initially.
The scheme has been led by Councillor Nicola Young, a former head student at Erskine College, who is responsible for the Central City Projects portfolio.
“Mother Aubert carried out her work without regard to religious or political affiliations, which certainly upset the establishment at times,” Ms Young said. “She was determined, energetic and had great vision.”
“By the time she died in 1926, she had become a much-loved national figure and her funeral at St Mary of the Angels may still be the largest held for a woman in New Zealand, with thousands of mourners lining the streets — even standing on rooftops — along
the route her hearse took to Karori Cemetery.
“It is no wonder she is well on the road to canonisation.”
Sisters of Compassion attended the unveiling.
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