A young woman in Africa wanted to give her life to God in Opus Dei. Her parents were not happy, and in order to dispel their anxiety they were invited to visit the house where their daughter would be living. “I don’t want to see where she’s going to live now,” exclaimed her mother, “I want to see where she will live when she is old!”
Pat Keefe was 19 years old when she joined Opus Dei as a numerary member in 1958. This was a year of two firsts; St Josemaria came to Britain for the first time and Pat became the first British women to join Opus Dei. She is 83 now and has advanced Alzheimer’s. She lives in DHEF centre Rydalwood where she is loved and cared for as a treasured member of the family of Opus Dei.
Pat studied classics at Queen Mary College and she lived in Rosecroft House, a student residence for women. Always strong and healthy, she worked tirelessly to help set up Opus Dei in Manchester. With very little material means, Pat also helped to secure a property at 12 The Beeches in Didsbury, south Manchester. This was the first Rydalwood, well before DHEF was established. Pat used to travel up to Manchester with a bag full of heavy old pennies so that she could call people from a phone box. No lightweight and convenient mobile phones then!
Pat’s Alzheimer’s is now in its final stage. She cannot do anything for herself. Today’s Rydalwood has been fitted with a stairlift and a wet room to accommodate her needs. Carers come in four times a day to look after her. Pat also has visits from young people at nearby student residence, Coniston, and she enjoys their singing.
Pat does not speak, but has a wonderful smile for the people she recognises. She can also make it absolutely clear when she doesn’t want to do something, by squeezing a hand very tightly and pulling back!
In her younger days Pat did some teaching, but most of her working life was spent in the day to day running of various centres of Opus Dei. She also had a role looking after the courses of study undertaken by women in Opus Dei, and she taught philosophy and metaphysics as well as some Latin.
Pat was a quiet person, who would often pass unnoticed. Affectionate and loyal, Pat got on with things. On one occasion Pat was looking after a retreat where only one lady attended. She did not ask for the retreat to be cancelled but gave herself totally to ensuring the lady did the retreat well.
Pat’s parents owned a sweetshop in Lancaster, where she grew up. Maybe they were anxious for their daughter’s future, but for 64 years Pat has always found a warm and loving family home in whichever centre of Opus Dei she has lived in. Her brother is very grateful that she is being so well looked after and loved in these final years of her life.
Doing the work of God lasts a lifetime. And now Pat’s work for God is to give those around her the opportunity to grow in virtues such as patience, understanding and self-giving. She is a living lesson that the social and emotional needs of an elderly, debilitated person are the same as anyone else’s. And, above all, that she is still Pat.
