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Sr Dominique-Marie, who died on Friday 11 March 2005, had spent the last 15 years or so in the Basingstoke Convent. She worked in St. Bede's Primary School. She loved children, was a gifted teacher and she fully immersed herself in the life of the school. However, in the 69 years of her life she valued most the years spent on the missions in Chad. Her work entailed supporting a project for the treatment of severely handicapped children and adults, pastoral work amongst the many starving people, and training and education of mothers of young children. It was a wrench for her when her health prevented her from continuing in the extremely hot, dry climate of Chad.
Sr. Dominique was born in South Wales and christened Jean (her surname was Powell). She was deeply marked by her upbringing in the mining valleys which nurtured in her a strong sense of justice and gave her the will to fight for the disadvantaged. The young Jean developed a great love of natural history; she tells how she would sit quietly by her father's side for as much as two hours waiting for a certain bird to appear. She could identify most birds and recognised their calls.
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It was clear that Sr. Dominique could not return to Africa and so she decided to help the missions by talking about the sisters' work and establishing a fund. Out of this grew 'the Oakham Ladies Group', a group of ladies who work tirelessly for the missions. Sr. Dominique then settled into teaching at St. Bede's School where she spent many happy years.
The loss of Dom is a great loss for all the sisters who have all enjoyed her sense of humour and love of fun. It has always been agreed that when you go out with Dom you have a good time.
(Sr Helen)
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Jean was educated at Pont-Ilanfraith Grammar School and then joined the Civil Service. This brought her to the Ordnance Survey in Southampton. During her time in Southampton she joined the Catholic Church. She soon became involved in parish activities which included running the Brownie Pack. This was a turning-point in her life; the Brownie-Guilders had arranged an area meeting which was to be held at Alton Convent. Jean told us later that as soon as she came into the house she felt that this was where she wanted to be. Jean eventually joined the Congregation and became known as Sr. Dominique-Marie.
After the novitiate training she went to La Sainte Union College to train as a teacher. She subsequently spent two years teaching geology and geography at Alton Convent and was then sent to the Congregation's new mission in Chad, one of the poorest countries in the world. This work needed all her skill as a teacher, her talent for organization and her great stamina and determination. The war in Chad imposed on the sisters the same privations that the people suffered; and Sr. Dominique had to be brought home suffering from tropical diseases and severe malnutrition.
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