GEORGE TOWN: Sister Aidan Fitzgerald, the longest-serving principal of SMK Convent Green Lane (CGL), passed away on Monday (July 14) at the age of 97 in her hometown of Ireland.

Sister Aidan, as she was fondly called, hailed from the Infant Jesus Sisters (IJS) religious order and was the last of three sisters who helmed the school.

Arriving on Penang’s shores in 1954, the beloved Cork County nun first taught Science in Convent Light Street before she was transferred to CGL.

She subsequently became the principal of the school in 1972 until her retirement in 1988.

Sister Aidan remained active and steadfast to her call as a teacher in her later years, offering tuition and teaching Bible classes at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus.

Loving the country that had become her new home, Sister Aidan obtained Malaysian citizenship in 1965 and resided here until 2012.

In July that year, she finally embarked upon a long leave back to Ireland amidst a heartfelt farewell celebration in the school that was attended by staff and students, both past and present.