A Derry nun who is on track to becoming a saint was a "larger than life character", her sister has said.

Sr Clare Crockett died after an earthquake hit the Ecuador school she was teaching at in April 2016.

Over the weekend, the Catholic Church recognised Sr Clare's candidacy for sainthood at the Cathedral of Alcala de Henares in Madrid.

On Lunchtime Live, Sr Clare's sister Shauna Gill said her family are "so proud" of her legacy.

"I’s just unbelievable - to be a part of that at the weekend was something else," she said.

"Clare was one of those larger than life characters and loved life."

Before her spiritual journey, Sr Clare wanted to be an actor and was more interested in "sun-bathing and how she looked", than prayer, Ms Gill said.

Missionary work

As a result, her family were initially surprised she was interested in becoming a nun.

"You couldn't imagine our reaction - we were shocked," she said.

"She started off [her missionary] in Spain - we thought she would be home after a year, but she wasn’t.

"Then she went to Jacksonville in Florida and then ended up in Ecuador teaching in a school and that’s when the tragedy happened."

Ms Gill described the day of her sister's death as "just unforgettable".

"Somebody had sent us a message asking is Clare OK and I said ‘Ah she’s grand,'" she said.

"There were floods a few days prior to the earthquake and we had contacted to see was she OK and then she had shown me a clip from Facebook saying Clare had been missing."

Within 24 hours, the family learnt Sr Clare had died.

Process of canonisation

Ms Gill said last weekend's ceremony is "the first stage" in Sr Clare becoming a saint.

"There are four steps in the process for becoming a saint," she said.

"Clare’s life will be investigated, there’ll be interviews there’ll be testimonies, there'll be investigations.

"People that claim Clare has granted them a miracle or a favour will have to be investigated before we move to the next stage."

Ms Gill said if Sr Clare becomes a saint, she will receive her own day.

"Sure, if she gives us a bank holiday, that's a bonus," she said.

You can listen back below:

Feature image: Family and friends of Sister Clare Crockett pictured at the a mural dedicated to her memory, unveiled in Deanery Street, Derry, Northern Ireland. Photo: George Sweeney/Alamy