Tributes paid to Derry teacher, actress and singer Carita Kerr
The Buncrana native was the wife of former SDLP mayor of Derry John Kerr
Tributes have been paid to Derry teacher, actress and singer Carita Kerr.
The Buncrana native was the wife of former SDLP mayor of Derry John Kerr.
Mrs Kerr died suddenly at Altnagelvin Hospital on Saturday.
Mrs Kerr taught speech and drama and counted the acclaimed Derry actress and musician Bronagh Gallagher among her alumni.
She was pre-deceased by her late husband John Kerr, a former SDLP mayor of Derry, and as mayoress welcomed US President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton to Derry for the first time in November 1995.
Leading the tributes, outgoing SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said her dedication to the party and her community were "an inspiration to many".
The Foyle MP said: "Carita Kerr was well known throughout our city and her native Donegal where she immersed herself in a wide variety of projects, particularly those involving the arts. Alongside her long career as a special educational needs teacher, she was also heavily involved in the Derry Feis throughout her life and was a regular face to people of all ages who attended and took part.
“I came to know Carita well after joining the SDLP and as a young member she always had a kind and encouraging word. After entering politics myself she retained a keen interest in the party and my career and she was someone I always looked forward to seeing at party events. Her dedication to the party and her community were an inspiration to many.
“With her late husband John, Carita took centre stage during the extraordinary visit of President Clinton and First Lady Hilary Clinton to Derry in November 1995. As Mayor and Mayoress they welcomed the Clintons to our city at a fragile time for our peace process and it’s a visit that’s still talked about today. I know that both were very proud to have played such a key role in an important moment in the history of our city.
“Carita will be missed by the entire SDLP family and all of those whose lives she touched, from the children she worked with to the drama students and others she mentored. Our thoughts are with Carita and John’s children James, Marie Louise and Robert, and the entire Kerr family circle at this sad time.”
The committee of Feis Dhoire Cholmcille wrote on their Facebook page: "The Committee of Feis Dhoire Cholmcille wishes to extend its sincere condolences to the family of the late Carita Kerr who sadly passed away on Saturday, September 28.
"A renowned and immensely successful feis competitor herself, Carita will also always be remembered by feis attendees as someone who later imparted her knowledge and talent as a teacher to countless young people who then in turn graced the stages of feis venues themselves."
Mrs. Kerr’s Funeral Mass will take place in St Eugene's Cathedral at 10am on Wednesday, after which her remains will be interred in the City Cemetery.
The funeral Mass can be viewed on the following link: http://www.steugenescathedral.com/webcam.html.