It was the first time in my life that someone broke the news to me of their impending death – and in such a stoic way. But Sr Loreto McLoughlin was a special woman on many fronts, and I was proud to call her my friend.

An educator, pioneer in social work and rural development, author, podcaster – she lived nine lives to the full. And even into her nineties, she was full of enthusiasm for the world around her.

When she asked me to drop in and see her in UHG a few weeks back, she was sitting up by the side of her bed, chirpy and friendly as ever as she told me in........

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