Remembered by her niece, Maggie Gilmartin.
Annie Niven was born to Alexander and Annie Dingwall Niven at 3.30pm on December 26, 1919 at 129 High Street, Dumbarton.
She was the couple’s fourth child and second daughter following Malcolm in 1911, Mary (Watters) in 1912 and Alex in 1914.
The family increased to include Jessie (McIvor) in 1921, Dan in 1922, John in 1924, stillborn twins in 1925 and Agnes (Robinson) in 1926.
Life was not easy in those post-war years and when Agnes was six weeks old, tragedy struck when her father - a carter - fell through a roof and died on January 27, 1927.
Annie was a wonderfully joyful and generous child, so much so that she gave the entire contents of the family’s laundry basket to a travelling ‘rag man’ in exchange for a minute toy.
She made her first vows at La Tour in July 1939 where her mother was allowed to visit. She became known as Sister Celine de St. Raphael.
In September 1939, the nun was moved to Amiens, and despite the fact that notices were displayed throughout the town saying “anyone found harbouring a British citizen will be shot”, with the collusion of the local mayor, Sister Celine was kept hidden. Nine months later, two German soldiers arrived at the Convent looking for her.
She was taken to Vittel and was incarcerated there until her liberation in October 1944.
Whilst there, she made her final vows in November 1943.
The highlight of her stay in camp was the visit of her younger brother, John, who was serving in the Army and who had been sent to France.
After her liberation, she served in several homes in France, before returning to Britain in 1967 where she served in London, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield, Sunderland, Hove and Leeds.
Eventually, Aunt Celine was sent to Edinburgh where she served at St Joseph’s until its closure in 2018.
Last year we were delighted to help her celebrate her 100th birthday Mass at St. Joseph’s, concelebrated by Archbishop Mario Conti, Fr George Bradburn and Fr Joe McAuley, then a beautiful lunch.
Many family members attended and the icing on the cake was a Papal blessing and a card from the Queen.
Sr Celine died peacefully, with great dignity at her home in Glasgow on December 22, 2020, four days before her 101st birthday.
The world is a dimmer place without her wit, humour, compassion and joie de vivre.
By her example, she taught us tolerance, kindness and unreserved love.
It has been an absolute privilege to have loved and to have been loved by Sr Celine.
