THE funeral of a nun who devoted four decades to educating young people in Belfast is due to take place on Wednesday.
During her teaching career, Sr Jacqueline O'Reilly (89) was a former head teacher at both Dominican College, Fortwilliam and St Dominic's Grammar School in the city.
Well-known for her "vision as an educationalist", many tributes have remembered Sr Jacqueline as a "wonderful teacher".
She passed away peacefully in hospital on Saturday following a short illness.
Originally from Dublin, after completing her teaching degree and joining the Dominican Sisters, she began teaching at Dominican College, Fortwilliam in 1959 and became principal in 1963.
A teacher of French, English and Religious Studies, she left to lecture at St Mary's College in Belfast from 1970 to 1972 before returning as head teacher at Fortwilliam again in 1973.
She also served as principal at St Dominic's Grammar School from 1984 to 1992 and was on the board of governors of Dominican College, Portstewart. She retired from teaching in 1998.
A spokeswoman for the Dominican Sisters in Belfast said "Sr Jacqueline was well-respected and everyone talks about her vision as a educationalist".
Numerous tributes have been paid on social media with one former pupil describing her as "an inspirational educationalist who was key in the development and achievement of many DCF pupils".
Another tribute said she "always found her to be kind and supportive in pastoral situations and an enjoyable teacher of A-level religion", while another added that she was "a wonderful teacher and friend of many years".
She was also described as a "wonderful woman who will be missed by generations of DCF girls".
Requiem Mass for Sr Jacqueline is due to take place at St Therese of Lisieux Church, Somerton Road on Wednesday at 2pm followed by burial in Dominican Convent Cemetery.
