Sr Catherine died peacefully on 29th October 2010 at Ladywell Convent, Godalming, Surrey. Sr Catherine (known to her many friends in the Diocese as Tess) was born and brought up in Thornaby and attended St Patrick’s Primary School and Newlands Convent, Middlesbrough. After leaving school, Sister worked in Head Wrightsons and ICI before entering the Order of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood on the Feast of the Epiphany in 1962. Most of her religious life was spent in Rome, in the Secretariat of State in the Vatican, as Burser and Administrator in the Beda College and as Local Leader in her Community. She was presented with the Pro Ecclesia medal for her work in the Secretariat. Sr Catherine was recalled to Godalming to serve for six years as General Secretary before returning to Rome.

Throughout her life, Sr Catherine was always delighted to return home to the north east and took great pride in the history and spiritual heritage of the area – she also had a keen interest in Middlesbrough FC!

Sr Catherine’s Requiem Mass was attended by her brothers, Bill and Frank, and her sister, Anne; sadly her sister, Celia, was unable to be present. The burial took place in the grounds of Ladywell Convent. RIP.