A DERRY nun who was killed in the Ecuador earthquake last month was a “striking example of womanhood,” mourners at her funeral have been told.
There were emotional scenes as friends carried the coffin of Sister Claire Crockett from St Columba’s Church on Monday from iher native Long Tower three weeks after she was killed in an earthquake which claimed more than 600 lives.
The 33-year-old nun was trying to bring children to safety when a stairwell collapsed in Playa Prieta where she had been serving as a missionary.
Sister Clare, a nun in the Home of the Mother order, had been teaching children in a rural part of the country, including guitar lessons.?
A guitar was among the gifts offered during the service.
Political and church leaders from across Ireland and from different faiths were joined by Sr Clare’s mother and father, Margaret and Gerard and sisters, Shauna and Megan. Three members of her Order, The Home of the Mother, also travelled from Spain for the funeral.
Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown was accompanied by bishop of Elphin (Sligo), Kevin Doran and retired bishop of Derry, Edward Daly. Twelve priests, including two representatives of Sister Clare’s order, were joined by Derry Presbyterian minister, David Latimer on the altar at St Columba’s church.
Deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood and Foyle MP Mark Durkan, were among the huge congregation.
Known for her outgoing nature, Sister Clare was a colourful and hugely popular figure among her friends. In an interview recorded in 2011 she revealed her friends did not believe her when she told them she intended becoming a nun because she did so with a “beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.”
Chief celebrant at her Requiem Mass, Fr Eamon Graham told mourners Derry people were rightly proud of their city.
Fr Graham said: “Derry women have so often lived the Gospel by putting the needs of others first. Sister Clare was a striking example of Derry womanhood. Clare asked herself what could she do to make the world a better place and how could she serve God through the most vulnerable.
“She clearly did this in an exemplary manner as a religious sister nourished by prayer and especially through the Eucharist but she did it above all as a woman who never forgot her Derry and her Brandywell roots.”
Fr Graham said Sr Clare enjoyed and loved life.
He said: "She always said she wanted to be famous but she gave all that up. But in a way she has achieved fame and that will help her good work continue."
Fr Graham said many people believed Sr Clare inspired them to change the direction of their lives.
“She has continued to do this in her death. Clare gave God all the credit for all the good that she was a part of,” he said.
Bishop McKeown said Sr Clare was “crazy enough” to believe that the religious life was the best possible way to live her own life.
“She died doing what she believed was beautiful. Like Jesus, she died young and because of Jesus we believe that a life given in loving sacrifice is never wasted,” Bishop McKeown said.
Following Requiem Mass, Sister Clare was laid to rest at Derry city cemetery.
Outside the church Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown said Sister Clare's family had drawn comfort by the level of support.
He said: "I didn't know her but, her smiling face, her guitar, is the way that she will be remembered.
"I understand she was found with the guitar cord round her neck, and in many ways that's the image most of us have seen of her over the past few weeks.
"I am sure she will be remembered as somebody who was full of energy and full of life and who wanted to give the best that she had for people who were not as well off or as fortunate as she was."