Sr. Veronica Thevarkottayil

Sr. Veronica Thevarkottayil RIP: 24.01.2016                                                 “Suffering is measured in hours, but the reward  is eternal.”  (Bl.  Brigida of Jesus)                 The aim of our life is to encounter God face to face in heaven.  Death is the reality that everyone on earth must face today or tomorrow. Let us always be prepared for this event by living a better life today than yesterday. Sr. Veronica, (Rosakutty) was born on 8^th September 1937, of late Mr. Abraham and Mrs. Mary Thevarkottayil at Velakumadam, Pala Diocese, Kerala. She was the 4th of twelve children.  After her primary education she joined our Congregation, the Ursulines of Mary Immaculate and pronounced her first vows on 4^th January 1957, taking the religious name Veronica.  She made her final commitment in January, 1964. She rendered her selfless service in the communities of Mariampur at Kanpur, UP;  also at Robertsganj, Kannur, Goa, Marikunnu - Calicut and at Vythiri. She gave her services also to our Mother House at Piacenza  and to our Generalate, in Rome, Italy  for several years. .Sr. Veronica was well aware of the significance of her call as a religious and she lived her consecrated life with love, enthusiasm and joy. She was a woman of prayer, deeply committed to carry out the tasks entrusted to her responsibly and efficiently. She had a keen interest in the pastoral care ministry. She extended a warm hospitality to everyone, especially to Priests and Religious, which was much appreciated. From 2005 she was a member of the Good Shepherd Hospital community at Vythiri. Due to a fall she sustained a fracture of the hip bone but, after treatment she was still active until 2 years ago when she was unable to walk and, from then on she was bedridden. On 24th January 2016, at  2 pm, her condition worsened and she became breathless. She was given all possible medical treatment, but, at 6.20 pm,  she flew to her heavenly  abode. The Parish Priest, Fr. Denny Moses and the Sisters, were praying for her around her bed. The mortal remains of Sr. Veronica were kept in the Good Shepherd Convent Chapel and Fr. Jiju Pallipparambil, the Chaplain of Good Shepherd, offered the Holy Eucharist in the presence of our Sisters and Sisters of nearby convents, hospital staff, parishioners, well wishers and relatives.  Prayers were offered  during the day and at night. On 25^th, at 7.00 a.m. Sr. Veronica’s  body was taken to Brigida Bhavan, Calicut for the funeral service.. At 9 a.m.  Rev. Fr. George Painadath, the Procurator of Kannur Diocese, along with Fr. Geoline, Parish Priest of Holy Redeemer Church, Marikunnu, prayed the office of the dead. The funeral Mass began at 3.45 p.m. celebrated by Rt.Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal,  Bishop of Calicut, Concelebrants were: Rev.Fr. Sunny Kunnappally, the Assistant Provincial of the Jesuits, Kerala Province, along with 20 other Priests. The Bishop gave a moving funeral oration, highlighting the selfless services of our dear Sr. Veronica.  He emphasized especially the dedicated care Sister Veronica had given to late Bishop Aldo Maria Patroni S.J. for 10 years. He said that this loving care alone is enough for her to enter heaven!  Soon after the Mass the funeral procession made its way to the Holy Redeemer Church Cemetery.. We enfold the dear soul of our Sr.Veronica in our prayers and implore God to grant her the joys of eternal life.  We also request her to intercede for all of us, our Congregation, the Church and the whole world.  May the good exemplary life of Sr. Veronica inspire us!