WARM hearted nun Sister Gerardina Harnett, who had many friends in Leigh, has died.

Sister Gerardina spent 14 active years in Leigh caring for the elderly in the Orchard Lane Convent residential home and formed a deep bond with residents, staff, parishioners and clergy.

She showed commitment and boundless energy and together with Sister Kathleen O'Regan, launched into parish work and hospital visiting, even after a busy day caring for the sick and aged.

From 1950 until arriving in Leigh in 1982, Sister Gerardina taught home economics and, after training as a nurse and midwife, worked in several hospitals in Nigeria.

Sister Gerardina retired to her Our Lady of Apostles community in Ardfoyle, Cork in November, 1996. She died at Marymount Hospice in Cork and rests in the Community cemetery at Ardfoyle.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in her memory to the Ambulance for Tanzania fund may do so at any Cheshire Building Society, account

number 40-0823004-08 providing a name and address for acknowledgement.