Brave Anna was an ‘inspiration’

Year 13 Loreto College student, Anna McAllister (16), died peacefully at her Kilrea home in the early hours of Friday morning, devastating many in the school, particularly her close friends and classmates.

A Loreto statement yesterday said: “With great sadness, the students and staff of Loreto College remember Anna McAllister, Year 13, who passed away on Friday 19th September, after a long illness. She will never be forgotten. We remember her family and her many friends at this time.”

Pictured above is Anna wearing a headscarf with her year group last May. Many students and staff raised money for the NI Children’s Cancer Fund in her honour, completing a Daisy Chain Walk.

From Drumsarah Road in Kilrea, Anna was the daughter of Randal and Fiona McAllister and sister of Katie, Sarah and Michael.

Hundreds from her former primary school, Crossroads, Loreto andlocal GAA club Pearses attended her funeral at St Mary’s Chuch, Drumagarner, on Sunday afternoon.

“She was a quiet girl but jus t so lovely. She had a very close friendship group called ‘The Gooses’ and they were just inseparable,” a school source said. “She was diagnosed with a brain tumour in fourth year and her intention was to come back to school. She never complained.”

Fellow pupils and friends posted messages of sympathy on the school’s Facebook site.

Emma Thompson wrote: “Can’t believe someone from my year group has gone. Anna is an inspiration to us all, thoughts prayers and deepest sympathy goes to the McAllister family. Rest in peace Anna, forever young xxx

Andrea Culleton added: “So sad and so young, poor girl. May Anna rest in peace now and hope her family cherish all the happy memories.”