Funeral Arrangements For Srs. Frances Forde And Marie Duddy
The remains of Srs. Frances Forde and Marie Duddy are reposing at Beechmount Convent of Mercy, 70 Ard-na-Va Road, Falls Road, Belfast from 7 pm on Wednesday October 1st to 6.30 pm on Thursday October 2nd.
Removal on Thursday October 2nd at 6.30 pm to Holy Cross Church, Ardoyne, Belfast.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon on Friday October 3rd, with burial afterwards in Our Lady’s Acre, Greencastle, Belfast.
Sr. Marie Duddy R.I.P.
Sr. Marie Duddy can be described as an enthusiastic ‘Educationalist’, being involved in a wide variety of educational pursuits at Second and Third Level in Belfast and overseas in Minna, Nigeria. Further to teaching in Mercy College, she went on to lecture in St. Joseph’s Training College now St. Mary’s University College and also at the School of Education at Queens University.
On her return from Nigeria, Sister became involved in various organisations especially the Committee of Christian and Jewish Interfaith Relations of which she was secretary for some years. Her deep commitment to the Northern Ireland Hospice has been a part of her life for many years, especially in her role as Librarian.
Sr. Marie’s commitment to the Mercy Schools in Belfast has spanned many years; serving on the Board of Governors of both Mercy Primary and Mercy College, her expertise and experience was an invaluable resource in the face of educational challenge and change.
Sr. Marie is deeply loved by her Family Circle and her Mercy Community in North and West Belfast and Downpatrick. The Sisters mourn her tragic loss but with grateful hearts acknowledge Marie’s life of Love and Service to all in need.
May She rest in peace
Sr. Frances Forde R.I.P.
Sr. Frances devoted her life to the education of the young. The pupils of Mercy Primary School, Crumlin Road, Belfast were the centre of her world for over 40 years, first as teacher and then as Principal. Her favourite maxim was ‘Be good to the pupils and to the staff’. Her long career of faithful service earned her the love and respect of many people in North Belfast and beyond in the greater Belfast Area.
On her retirement Sr. Frances became immersed in the Parish of Holy Cross, Ardoyne and could have been described as a ‘walking nun’, a term often used to describe the first Sisters of Mercy in Dublin. She was fully committed to the ideals and ethos of Mercy and to the needs of the people.
She is deeply loved by her Family Circle and the Community of Mercy in Belfast and Downpatrick. The Sisters of Mercy mourn her loss through a tragic accident. We thank God for the example of Frances’s life lived to the full in Love of God and Service of God’s people.
May She rest in peace
The Sisters of Mercy of the Northern Province are deeply saddened and shocked by the deaths, as a result of a road traffic accident, of Srs. Marie Duddy and Frances Forde, from Ballysillan House, Crumlin Rd, Belfast. The accident occurred on the morning of the 30th September on the Belfast Newry Rd near the Derrycraw road junction. We, their Mercy Family, are struggling to cope with their sudden parting from us, we take comfort from the example of their lives, lived in the service of God and God’s people.
We offer our heartfelt sympathies to Fr. Brendan Duddy SJ, Milltown Park, Dublin, brother of Sr. Marie and to Fr. Peter Forde, pastor emeritus of St. John’s Parish Belfast and brother of Sr. Frances, together with their families and friends.
Congregation
