THE much-loved former headmistress of a Bolton school has died after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

Sister Imelda McCann, who spent 25 years as head of Saints Peter and Paul's primary school off Derby Street in central Bolton, was being remembered today in a requiem mass. She was 83.

Pupils consistently achieved test grades comfortably above the town average during the time Sister Imelda, who took her first steps towards becoming a nun at 18, presided over the school.

She is remembered as an innovative educationalist who encouraged her teachers to undergo in-house training and saw several of her staff go on to headships themselves.

A passionate advocate of teachers' interests, she was also president of the Bolton branch of the National Association of Headteachers.

After her retirement in 1982, she channelled her desire to help people into work with the Citizens Advice Bureau for several years.

Friends say the homeless would regularly arrive at Mount St Joseph's convent with a personal note from Sister Imelda asking that the bearer be given a good hot meal.

"Sister Imelda was a strong, independent character with vision and high ideals but she was immensely compassionate and caring, especially towards people who were disadvantaged," said friend Sister Barbara of Mount St Joseph's Convent.

"As headmistress she always wanted the best for her children and encouraged her staff to do likewise. She worked tirelessly to enable the children to get the best start possible in life.

"To her pupils she appeared strict but one who knew who well said she was was soft as butter.'"

Sister Imelda was born in Belfast, the youngest of seven surviving children. Two of her brothers, Matt and Stan, became priests of the Passionate Order and she joined the Cross and Passion Order at Mount St Joseph in 1935.

Sister Imelda had just turned 70 when fellow nuns began to notice the first signs of Alzheimer's disease and a long, debilitating illness followed. She died peacefully on Wednesday.

A requiem mass was held at St Ethelbert's Church this morning before Sister Imelda was interred at Tonge Cemetery.