Anna Edwards

anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk

HUNDREDS of mourners paid tribute to a beloved New Addington nun at a mass in her memory last week.

Sister Joan O'Donoghue, 76, who was described as an inspiration to the hundreds of people she helped, was given a memorable farewell by the community.

Three services took place, with the first at Good Shepherd Church, New Addington, last Thursday.

The second was in the Chapel of her Order, the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, in West Wickham, and the third was in Ireland on Tuesday, where she was buried.

The dedicated nun had spent the last 25 years of her life helping the needy in New Addington.

In 1990, she founded Good Shepherd Mission to the Homeless, a weekly soup run which distributes food, clothes and companionship to people on the streets of London.

Sister Joan, New Addington's parish sister, was awarded an MBE in 2007 for her work with homeless people and the community of New Addington.

To show their gratitude for all her years of tireless work, around 800 people turned out in New Addington for the celebration of her life.

Reverend Dr Jeanne Males, from St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church, in Addington Village, led the mass last Thursday.

"There were so many people, they kept coming and coming," she said.

"I thought it was so beautiful and spoke about what she had meant to us.

"I think the work she's done has affected so many people and had such a positive impact on so many.

"She was an extraordinary woman and it's wonderful that we had her in this little pocket of Croydon. Her death has been a huge loss for everyone."

Puff Carroll, who knew Sister Joan for more than 20 years through working with the homeless, said the mass had been very moving for all who attended.

"It was a truly lovely service and fitting that so many people were there to remember her," she said.

"She was such an inspirational woman and every single pew in the church was packed, it was amazing."