Members of Clare’s family, Sisters of St Joseph, members of the Cardiff parish community, as well
as Clare’s friends and associates were in the congregation.
Fr Joseph Figurado, parish priest presided at the Mass with Fathers Dom Carrigan, CSsR and Fr
Gordon Quinn as concelebrants. Bishop Brian Mascord was also present in the congregation.
Clare went from her hometown of Wauchope to enter the Novitiate of the Sisters of St Joseph at
Lochinvar in 1955. She was professed in 1957 as a Sister of St Joseph.
The artwork on Mass book featured images of the Josephite Cross, a violin, a sewing machine and
a medal of St Clare on a blue background. Beside it was a quote from the First reading: Nothing
can come between us and the love of Christ … (Rom 8:39)
The choice of music and Scripture Readings, together with the Words of Remembrance presented
by Sr Carmel Moore and the homily delivered by Fr Dom Carrigan, all gave a clear insight into the
life of a truly remarkable woman.
Sr Clare was humble, prayerful and faithful in her commitment to living the Gospel. She had a
special devotion to the Holy Spirit and loved to pray the Pentecost Sequence. This led to the
choice of Come Holy Spirit, Lord of Life for the Entrance Procession.
Sr Clare taught for many years as an Infants and Primary School Teacher, using her skills as an
artist and musician. Later, she moved to pastoral care and then to hospital ministry, spending over
twenty years at the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where her quiet and gentle nature brought
solace to many in their anxious times.
Sr Clare spent her final days at Maroba Aged Care facility in Waratah where her gentle manner and
friendly smile brought joy to the other residents. It was there that she died on the eve of the
Easter Triduum.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Sisters of St Joseph, relatives and friends accompanied the funeral
cortege to the Lochinvar where Sr Clare was laid to rest in the Sisters’ section of the parish
cemetery.
Sr Brigid Linehan rsj
