'Cherished' teacher and mum of two dies suddenly in Bulgaria tragedy
A loved teacher and mum-of-two known for her "lovely infectious laughter" suddenly died in Bulgaria.
Tributes were paid to 60-year-old Catherine Parsons from Derry, Northern Ireland, at her funeral earlier today after she passed away on July 30. Mourners heard the history teacher had "great determination" and "loved life to the full".
Originally from Creggan but living in Portrush, she was described as a woman who was "confident, hardworking, intelligent, funny, friendly and welcoming" during a moving homily at Holy Family Church in Ballymagroarty. It comes after a woman, 20, was found dead on bus with 26 iPhones glued to her body.
The school where she worked said she was 'cherished'. In a moving tribute, Oakgrove Integrated College, said: "As Head of History she taught and led with passion and dedication. As a teacher and form teacher she guided countless young people, nurturing their unique spirits, passions and personalities, helping to shape futures. Catherine touched innumerable lives through her teaching and her gentle presence in Oakgrove's halls.
"Ever the professional, she cared deeply for each individual, sharing kindness, warmth and humour with students and staff alike. We are all enriched by the lasting imprint of her love and grace. She lived out the values of integrated education, acting from a deep belief in the equal worth of every person."
In a moving homily on Tuesday, Father Joe Gormley said according to Belfast Live: "A fortnight tomorrow, the news came from Bulgaria that Catherine had suddenly died and that was news that was particularly painful.
"They [her family] knew a light had gone out of their lives, the light of a woman who was confident, hardworking, intelligent, funny, friendly and welcoming. That light went out in the middle of the summer's night and their lives now will be touched with a gap and a darkness which comes when someone who was a gift like Catherine is leaves us - a gift that was first of all given by God To Desi and Martina, the first born, the first of five children.
"She began her life in Central Drive in Creggan. Being the eldest is not the easiest for any member of a family as they are the first to do it all. They are the ones who push out the boundaries for the rest of us. Catherine was the first to do it all - rhe boyfriends, education, career. She set the trail for the rest of the family."
He continued: "Over the last two weeks, as we have waited news of Catherine's returning home, I've heard so much about her - Catherine's lovely infectious laughter was felt everywhere she went. She had a great determination to succeed in any venture, and this was her greatest strength. She was a proud daughter, sister, wife, mother."
Addressing Catherine's immediate family, he said: "The light has gone out of your home but today Christ promises you that he will walk with you as he will walk walk with Martina and Desi and the rest of the family. We know today that because of what Jesus did for us, as we heard in the gospel, death does not have the final victory. Death has only a momentary say in our lives if we believe in Christ."
The Holy Family parish priest continued: "Catherine was someone who loved life and loved life to the full. She loved her role as a teacher. She, I'm told, embraced kindness, professionalism and humor in her role in Oakgrove. She was always trying to be graceful, to be eloquent and caring to the young people in their care."
He added: "Over the last two weeks, God has sent among you so many people who wanted to let you know that God was walking with you - friends and colleagues from Oakgrove, neighbors and friends from Oakgrove, people in this parish and wider family circle. I know that Catherine's family are particularly indebted to all those who work at the Kevin Bell Foundation, who worked so hard to bring her home. They are signs of the resurrection among us. There are people, all of them you may mention, are signs that Christ has not abandoned us. He continues to walk with us."
An online fundraiser in her memory, which can be found here, has raised nearly £6,500 for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Fake doctor who became one of Interpol's most-wanted women after charging more than 600 patients for 'treatment' is arrested 5,000 miles away after going on the run
Spanish Police have arrested a woman accused of posing as a doctor in Colombia and of treating hundreds of patients without a licence. Catherine, a 37-year-old Colombian woman, posed as a doctor in her native country from 2020 to 2023, treating up to a staggering 655 patients. The woman, who was on Interpol 's most wanted list, was detained in the town of Catarroja, in the eastern region of Valencia, during a joint operation with Colombian authorities, Spain 's National Police said on X. 'She posed as a doctor in Colombia, where she treated 665 patients. Colombian authorities were searching for her for impersonation, fraud, and document forgery,' the police stated. According to local reports, Catherine had amassed a huge fortune thanks to her scandalous deception. The fake doctor had a large patient list in Barranquilla, Colombia, and even worked at the Maternal and Child Hospital in the city of Soledad. It was there she treated several hundreds of patients, including minors, and charged large sums of money to her patients without any training. She had reportedly worked at several other health facilities in Colombia for three years before fleeing to Spain, where she lived with her partner and child. Catherine began her false medical practice during the Covid19 pandemic, when she showed up at the Colombian Police Clinic with a fake resume as a general practitioner and more than five years of experience, reports Ok Diario. From there, she moved to the Maternal and Child hospital, further adding to her resume and career portfolio. It has also been reported that Catherine had believed her false documentation was real as she had 'purchased the degree from a real doctor'. However, it has been revealed that she had also been scammed by a con artist who was not a real medical professional. Colombian agents located Catherine after she fled in the Valencian Community and requested assistance from Interpol and the Spanish National Police. It was finally the National Police's Fugitive Group that managed to track her down. The fake doctor, who lived in Valencia with her husband and son, had kept changing addresses to avoid being found. She will soon be handed over to the National Court to decide her fate in the coming days.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'Cherished' teacher and mum of two dies suddenly in Bulgaria tragedy
Catherine Parsons from Derry, Northern Ireland, suddenly died while she was away in Bulgaria. Moving tributes were paid to the 60-year-old history teacher at her funeral today A loved teacher and mum-of-two known for her "lovely infectious laughter" suddenly died in Bulgaria. Tributes were paid to 60-year-old Catherine Parsons from Derry, Northern Ireland, at her funeral earlier today after she passed away on July 30. Mourners heard the history teacher had "great determination" and "loved life to the full". Originally from Creggan but living in Portrush, she was described as a woman who was "confident, hardworking, intelligent, funny, friendly and welcoming" during a moving homily at Holy Family Church in Ballymagroarty. It comes after a woman, 20, was found dead on bus with 26 iPhones glued to her body. The school where she worked said she was 'cherished'. In a moving tribute, Oakgrove Integrated College, said: "As Head of History she taught and led with passion and dedication. As a teacher and form teacher she guided countless young people, nurturing their unique spirits, passions and personalities, helping to shape futures. Catherine touched innumerable lives through her teaching and her gentle presence in Oakgrove's halls. "Ever the professional, she cared deeply for each individual, sharing kindness, warmth and humour with students and staff alike. We are all enriched by the lasting imprint of her love and grace. She lived out the values of integrated education, acting from a deep belief in the equal worth of every person." In a moving homily on Tuesday, Father Joe Gormley said according to Belfast Live: "A fortnight tomorrow, the news came from Bulgaria that Catherine had suddenly died and that was news that was particularly painful. "They [her family] knew a light had gone out of their lives, the light of a woman who was confident, hardworking, intelligent, funny, friendly and welcoming. That light went out in the middle of the summer's night and their lives now will be touched with a gap and a darkness which comes when someone who was a gift like Catherine is leaves us - a gift that was first of all given by God To Desi and Martina, the first born, the first of five children. "She began her life in Central Drive in Creggan. Being the eldest is not the easiest for any member of a family as they are the first to do it all. They are the ones who push out the boundaries for the rest of us. Catherine was the first to do it all - rhe boyfriends, education, career. She set the trail for the rest of the family." He continued: "Over the last two weeks, as we have waited news of Catherine's returning home, I've heard so much about her - Catherine's lovely infectious laughter was felt everywhere she went. She had a great determination to succeed in any venture, and this was her greatest strength. She was a proud daughter, sister, wife, mother." Addressing Catherine's immediate family, he said: "The light has gone out of your home but today Christ promises you that he will walk with you as he will walk walk with Martina and Desi and the rest of the family. We know today that because of what Jesus did for us, as we heard in the gospel, death does not have the final victory. Death has only a momentary say in our lives if we believe in Christ." The Holy Family parish priest continued: "Catherine was someone who loved life and loved life to the full. She loved her role as a teacher. She, I'm told, embraced kindness, professionalism and humor in her role in Oakgrove. She was always trying to be graceful, to be eloquent and caring to the young people in their care." He added: "Over the last two weeks, God has sent among you so many people who wanted to let you know that God was walking with you - friends and colleagues from Oakgrove, neighbors and friends from Oakgrove, people in this parish and wider family circle. I know that Catherine's family are particularly indebted to all those who work at the Kevin Bell Foundation, who worked so hard to bring her home. They are signs of the resurrection among us. There are people, all of them you may mention, are signs that Christ has not abandoned us. He continues to walk with us." An online fundraiser in her memory, which can be found here, has raised nearly £6,500 for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Shocking moment Brit tourist collapses on Rio beach after woman's drugs cocktail
Investigators are searching for three women after the group allegedly conspired to drug a British tourist to steal tens of thousands of pounds from him during his holiday This is the shocking moment a British tourist collapsed on a beach in Rio de Janeiro after the victim was drugged by a woman. The incident was recorded on Rio de Janeiro's Ipanema beach in the early hours. Video footage showed the victim in a disorientated state as he staggered down the beachfront and then collapsed onto the sand. Just moments earlier, three women, who are understood to be suspects, were seen running down the street before jumping in a taxi that swiftly left the area. The victim is believed to be a university student who was on holiday with a mate from school when they met the woman and drank with them at a bar. It comes after a man dies and 9 more rushed to hospital after eating sandwich amid urgent recall. One of the women who is believed to have given him a caipirinha cocktail before the victim drank it and ended up losing consciousness. When he woke up in the emergency room, he found that more than £16,000 had been swindled from his bank account, reports NewsX. The two Brits, who were not named, also claimed their iPhones were taken. Police in Brazil have identified the women as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27. Investigators said the women are sex workers who prey on tourists who visit the city. Campos de Oliveira was previously jailed for six months for the same type of offence and is now understood to have returned to the scheme. The trio were recognised on videos shared to social media where they were seen with the men before the incident on August 8. Police have located the taxi driver who drove away with the women, although he is not suspected to have been involved in their scheme. Brazil's Special Tourism Support Unit has launched an investigation into the case. It has urged visitors to be cautious around strangers and to avoid sharing drinks. There have been other cases where Brits have taken drugs while abroad with serious consequences. Ryan Long, 18, died after he reportedly took an ecstasy pill on holiday. Ryan, from Eastwood in Essex, was in Ibiza with four friends on his first-ever lads holiday. But he died earlier this year after he suddenly fell ill while out in UNVRS nightclub.
