Northern Ireland nun Sister Clare Theresa Crockett described as a 'beautiful person' after Ecuador earthquake claims life of missionary.

The Northern Ireland nun killed in a massive earthquake in Ecuador has been described as a "diamond" and a "beautiful person," who died doing what she loved; helping people.

Sister Clare Theresa Crockett was based at a school in Playa Prieta with the Home of the Mother order.

The 33-year-old was described as “a diamond of the family” by a relative to the Derry Journal, who said she died as she lived; helping people".
The missionary of 15 years was teaching young children to play the guitar when the disaster occurred.

She had been trying to lead them to safety when the four storey building they were in collapsed on top of them on Sunday.

The 7.8-magnitude quake hit the Manta area on Saturday.
On Monday, the death toll had reached 272, with search and rescue operations continuing.

In a statement, Sister Clare's family said: "On Sunday 17th April, we lost our daughter, sister and aunt Sister Clare Theresa Crockett as a result of the earthquake in Ecuador.
"She was situated in a school in Playa Prieta with the Home of the Mother Order. At this difficult time we would ask for privacy."

Fr Roland Calhoun was the young woman's spiritual director. He described her as "a beautiful person".
"The terrible news has devastated everyone in the last couple of hours," he told BBC Radio Foyle.
"This is a young girl who gave her life to God and died for the gospel.
"She was a joyful girl, I've known her since she was a teenager. A beautiful person.
"I'll remember the joy that she brought to her youth group and the enthusiasm she showed for her vocation to religious life.
"It's counter cultural to join a religious order for a young girl and she embraced it. We'll remember her with such affection."

Before the age of 18 when she pledged to a life of servitude, Sister Clare has aspirations to be an actress. She joined an agency, presented television shows and even had a small part in a movie.
A self-confessed party animal she signed up for what she thought was a free trip to Spain only for her to later realise it was for a pilgrimage during Holy Week. It was during this trip that she realised the Grace of God and realised she had to change her ways.
Sister Clare said she was happy to serve God in South America.

In a testimony, she said: "I thank God for the patience that He has had with me, and still has!!!! I do not ask Him why He has chosen me, I just accept it. I depend totally on Him and Our Blessed Mother and I ask them to give me the grace to be whatever they want me to be."

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