Sr. Clare Theresa Crockett
By Anthony Neeson
A nun from Derry has been killed in the weekend’s massive earthquake in Ecuador.
33-year-old Sister Clare Theresa Crockett from the Brandywell area of the city died on Saturday at the school where she worked in Playa Prieta.
Six bodies were recovered from the school which is run by the Home of the Mother order.
Another Irish nun, 36-year-old Sister Thérèse Ryan, was pulled from the rubble with a fractured skill and bruising.
More than 250 people died when the earthquake struck the South American country.
The death toll is expected to rise in the coming days.
Sister Clare’s spiritual director, Fr. Roland Colhoun, told BBC Radio Foyle that the “terrible news has devastated everyone.”
"This is a young girl who gave her life to God and died for the gospel.
"She was a joyful girl. I've known her since she was a teenager. A beautiful person.
"I'll remember the joy that she brought to her youth group and the enthusiasm she showed for her vocation to religious life.
"It's counter cultural to join a religious order for a young girl and she embraced it. We'll remember her with such affection.”
Sr. Clare’s family released a statement.
It said: "On Sunday 17th April, we lost our daughter, sister and aunt Sister Clare Theresa Crockett as a result of the earthquake in Ecuador.
"She was situated in a school in Playa Prieta with the Home of the Mother Order. At this difficult time we would ask for privacy."
A close friend, Sr. Kristin Tenreiro, said: "When she was asked to work in Ecuador, she knew that there were dangers, but, despite that, she saw it as God's will.
"She gave herself to God and to the poor and the needy.
"I will remember her with a huge smile on her face, singing, writing songs and I will remember her jokes.
"She was a very funny sister and wherever she was, the entire group was laughing.”
In a statement, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan offered the Irish government’s condolences.
He said: "I want to offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Sister Clare Crockett who was killed in Ecuador on Saturday. The tributes paid to Sister Crockett since the weekend are a testament to the difference she made to the lives of the community she served. My department is providing consular assistance to her family.
“On behalf of the government and people of Ireland, I also want to extend our sincere condolences to the people of Ecuador on the tragic and heavy loss of life from Saturday’s devastating earthquake. Our thoughts are with the families of all those who were killed as they mourn their loss.
“Officials from my department continue to liaise closely with the authorities in Ecuador in the aftermath of the earthquake."
