[1][2] Born as Sarah Mary Catherine Stirling in 1876 in Riverton, Southland, she became an evangelist in the Salvation Army and trained as an officer in Wellington.

[3] She married Himeperi "Humphrey" Te Wharekauri Munro, an Anglican minister at Pakipaki, in the Napier Cathedral on 2 November 1910.

[1] In March 1905 she formed the Pūtiki Maori Christian Temperance Union with Mrs. R. Davis (daughter of Taitoko Keepa Te Rangihiwinui, Major Kemp) elected president, Hena Stirling as secretary, Mark Peneaha as treasurer, and Matthew Patopu assistant secretary.

[6] She continued to sing evangelist songs to public audiences, for example at the WCTU NZ convention in 1905 at Wanganui.

[13] No longer an official organiser of the WCTU NZ, Stirling continued to serve as a missionary for the Anglican Church, visiting the sick and elderly, teaching Bible classes and assisting her husband in Ohinemutu with Sunday School services.