Hundreds of young people were among mourners at the funeral yesterday of Sister Joan Bowles, who died on Thursday when her car was hit by a train at a rail crossing in Co Limerick.
St Mary's Church in Athlunkard Street in Limerick was packed to overflowing for the Requiem Mass concelebrated by 47 priests for the 59-year-old nun, described as someone "who drew young people to her".
Sister Joan, from Co Limerick, was director of the Limerick Youth Service and a member of the Mercy Order. She died when her car was in collision with a train at an unmanned railway crossing at Woodfarm, near Dromkeen, on Thursday evening.
A Bible was placed on the coffin and the Mayor of Limerick, Mr John Cronin, and the chairwoman of Limerick County Council, Ms Brigid Teefy, led civic dignitaries. Members of the Mercy Order were also present.
Sister Joan had been preparing for the wedding of her Canadian-born niece, Ms Karyn Bowles, a teacher at St John the Baptist Secondary School in Hospital, Co Limerick.
She had just collected a wedding cake and flowers when the accident happened. Ms Bowles read the first lesson at the Mass.
The congregation heard that a 60th surprise birthday party was to have been held for her last night in the Ballyloughran holiday home for young people near Ballybunnion in Co Kerry.
Chief celebrant Father John O'Shea, parish priest of Corpus Christi, Moyross, said: "Through her singular vision for young people she challenged systems that hitherto proved negative and she provided alternative structures leading to more practical and more positive ways of living.
Following in the footsteps of her foundress, Catherine McCauley, Sister Joan's God-given and natural talent for leadership was enhanced by her feminine qualities of mind and heart which drew young people to her, particularly the broken.
"She gave them from her maturity and freedom a quality of life that enriched them with dignity, hope and courage. Her patience, her compassion, her positive and straightforward approach all helped to give life and character to the young people in her care," he said.