Tributes have been paid to a \u201cvisionary\u201d and \u201cdedicated\u201d nun who has died just over two weeks after becoming Ireland\u2019s oldest woman.<\/p>\n
Sr Colette Hickey, who was born during the first World War, died at the age of 108 in a nursing home in Cork<\/a> city.<\/p>\n Manus O\u2019Callaghan, founder of the Cork Person of the Year, said Sr Colette was the first recipient of the award and said she won for her work in establishing Edel House, a shelter for homeless women and children in need of emergency accommodation.<\/p>\n \u201cShe won the inaugural award in 1993 and she received the award from taoiseach Albert Reynolds<\/a> \u2013 he came straight from London after he signed the historic Downing Street Declaration with John Major<\/a> in December 1993, so it was a special day, but then she was kind of special.<\/p>\n \u201cThe day that she got the award, I was walking her out the door of the old Jury\u2019s Hotel. I said by way of small talk, \u2018If ever I can be of help, let me know\u2019 and the next morning a phone call and I ended up 20 years on the committee of Edel House. That was how she was, she drew you in.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was a strong woman, and a lovely person, very down to earth. She lived a good life \u2013 it\u2019s a very sad day.\u201d <\/p>\n Sr Colette was born Bridget Hickey in Barracree, Ballinamult, at the foot of the Comeraghs, Co Waterford<\/a>, on January 31st, 1918. She joined the Good Shepherd Sisters in 1935 when she was 17 years old. <\/p>\n