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Sister Judith CHN

by
17 April 2015

The Revd Sister Diana CHN writes:

.

In those early days, when sisters often gave up their baptismal name, along with everything else, she was known "in religion", for some obscure reason, as Gillian (pronounced with a hard G). She had worked in the civil service during the war years, and came with many gifts and qualities.

More than 64 years of prayer and ministry took her to many places: our branch houses in Birmingham, Brighton, Wellingborough, Chester, Torquay, Cardiff, West Malvern, Newcastle, Nottingham, Peterborough, Keswick, and Oakham; to Newcastle University as chaplain, and briefly to Lesotho. She was involved in many parish missions over the years.

There were other times when Judith was based at the Convent, initially in Malvern, and later in Derby, serving the community as housekeeper, choirmistress, infirm-arian, assistant superior, and bursar - brilliantly overseeing our move from Malvern to Oakwood, Derby (1988-90). Finally, aged 87, she became pastoral sister to the frail and elderly members of the community, many younger than she was.

Judith was indeed multi-skilled and multi-talented; she had energy, strong opinions, and political clout (some of us thought she should have been a politician), and a true sense of fairness and justice. She was loyal, and totally committed to the job in hand. Her wisdom and integrity, her kindness, gentleness and on-going encouragement endeared her to us - and we will miss her immensely.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

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