Mother Marie-Joseph Aubert was born, Suzanne Aubert. At age 16, convinced of a calling to serve God she joined a religious nursing order, against the wishes of her family. She served as a nurse in the Crimean War, mainly at the base hospital in and on hospital ships.

Suzanne Aubert arrived in New Zealand (NZ) in 1860. She began her novitiate in June 1861 as Sister Marie-Joseph of the Congregation of the Holy Family. Her work with Maori, for whom she developed a profound love, took her from Auckland to Meeanee near Napier, she was district nurse to both pakeha and Maori for 12 years, as well as ministering to the spiritual needs of the Maori.

In 1883, Archbishop Redwood, sought her help in the re-establishment of the Wanganui River mission and with 3 sisters and a priest she moved to Jerusalem on the Wanganui River. In the midst of an impoverished community, they set up 2 schools, a dispensary and offered a refuge to orphans and the chronically ill. The work of the mission was supported by work on the land and the sale of medicines in Wanganui. In 1892 the Daughters of our Lady of Compassion was formed and she became Mother Aubert.

She later moved to Wellington and remained there until her death, apart from nursing the wounded in Europe during World War I. The order she founded, The Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion, opened homes for the incurably ill and handicapped children and provided nursing services for many.

BORN: 1835, Lyons, France.

DIED: 1926, Wellington, New Zealand.