CRASH TAKES SIS. PAT

Sister Pat has died.

This tragic news was relayed back to St. Vincent late last Friday evening and for those closest to her, time stopped.

Sister Pat had been travelling in a car driven by her sister Joyce Dear, who resides in Barbados, when tragedy struck. Another sister, Joycelyn Douglas, visiting from their native Dominica was also in the vehicle. {{more}}

It is believed Sister Pat died instantly from the impact of the crash.

According to reports out of Barbados, Joyce Dear suffered a fractured left rib and multiple lacerations while the other sister fractured her left shoulder.

Other persons injured in what has been described as a four-vehicle smash up were Anthony Weekes, of Rices, St. Phillip, who sustained head injuries, Cedric Cumberbatch of Todds Land, St. George and Dwayne Cave and his five-year-old son.

Up to press time, both of Sister Pat’s sisters had been released from Barbados’ Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The untimely death of Sister Pat was felt even more painfully since it was known that she had struggled with cancer during the past two years and seemed to have beated the deadly disease.

Her last few weeks had been spent in a very hectic fashion visiting with friends and family in her native Dominica, in St. Lucia and here at home.

Her last major function at the St. Joseph’s Convent, the secondary school she led as principal for the last 25 years, was the Graduation Exercise where she saw many of her charges off. Her Chemistry student were this week preparing to write their Caribbean Examination Council exams.

Sister Patricia Ann Douglas, was born in Portsmouth, Dominica one of the ten children of the prominent Douglas family. Her two most famous brothers, former leader of the opposition and of the Dominica Labour Party Michael Douglas and Rosie Douglas who was PrimeMinister of Dominica, both died at the height of their political careers.

Similar to her brothers, Sister Pat was a proven leader dedicated to the upliftment of the poor.

Sister Pat’s body is expected to be brought to St. Vincent today for two services on Saturday. Bishop Robert Rivas has announced that there will be a special service at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Assumption for the students of the St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua. Another mass has been set for 2 p.m. for the general public.

She is to be buried in her native homeland Dominica next week.