Obituaries

Born :07.03.1947
Entered Bethany :21.11.1968
Temporary Profession :04.05.1972
Perpetual Profession :03.05.1978
Slept in the Lord :19.03.2023

Sister Sandra BS, nee Gracy Cabral (75) The Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Mangalore, passed away on March 19,2023 at 9.40pm. She is the member of St Theresa’s Convent, Karnal, Haryana, of Northern Province. Sr Sandra is the daughter of Late Martin Maurice Cabral and Bridget Cabraland hails from Our Lady of Health Parish, Shirva, Mangalore. She grew up in the loving company of a brother and a sister.

Sr Sandra was a loving, humane and compassionate sister who served the poor and the sick in the capacity of a nurse. She spent most of her life among the poor and neglected section of the society and had a great zeal for pastoral and family apostolate. Sr Sandra was neat and orderly in her appearance.Her wit and humour made people enjoy her company. Fidelity to duty was the hallmark of Sr Sandra.She was a great devotee of our Blessed Mother Mary and Rosary was her constant companion especially when she was incapacitated. She brought down blessings on the Congregation through her long years of sufferings and incessant prayers.

She suffered a paralytic stroke in the year 2002 at Bethany Convent, Jharmunda, Orissa when she was active in the ministry. Although she recovered partially over the years, eventually her health deteriorated, she lost her speech, eye-sightand her movements were restricted. The Provincial Superiors, the local superiors and the sisters of the community took care of her with much compassion, commitment and diligence for the past 21 years.

She had her Primary Education at Don Bosco, Shirva and her Secondary education at Rosa Mystica High School Gurpur. She joined Bethany in the year 1968 and made her temporary profession in 1972 and perpetual profession in 1978. She served at Christ the King Convent, Karkal, St Joseph’s Convent Bathinda, St Theresa’s Convent Karnal, St Theresa’s Convent, Jhinkpani, Sacred Heart Convent, Ludhiana, Bethany Convent, Ranchi, Stella Maris Convent Sultanpur, Bethany Convent, Jharmunda and Shanti Ashram, Berhampur.She qualified herself as an ANM Nurse at St Joseph’s Hospital, Baramulla, Kashmir and served in socio-medical apostolate.

Ever since, February 2023, she showed signs of physical weakness and lack of appetite. She had acute pain in her entire body which she bore with much patience and fortitude as she could not express in words. Sr Elsie Vas the Superior and the sisters were vigilant and observed her deteriorating health condition as the days passed by. Sr Erasma, the Provincial Superior and her team paid regular visits and enquired about her health condition.

At 9.35pm Sr Sandra’s health deteriorated. Sr Elsie and the sisters of the community rushed to her aid.She gave a deep sigh and breathed her last at 9.40pm and commended her soul to her Creator on the eve of the feast of St Joseph. Her funeral rites will be held at Immaculate Heart Church, Karnal on 20.03.2023 at 4.00pm.
I extend my sincere condolences to Sr Erasma, the Provincial Superior and all the sisters of Northern Province, Sr Elsie, the Local Superior and the members of St Theresa’s Convent, Karnal.

Eternal Rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.

[Sr Shanthi Priya BS
Asst Superior General