Sr. Victoria Kalapurackal

‘A beautiful garden now stands alone, Missing the one who nurtured it… But now she is gone….her flowers still bloom, and the sun still shines. We cherish the times she spent with us and they are locked in our hearts……………………..’ Sr. Victoria rejoiced in the Lord always, especially when the invitation came from her Heavenly Spouse on 09.09.2016 at 1.00 a.m. She was a spirit filled person, chosen and anointed to do the little things with great love. Sr. Victoria was born on 15th November 1932 at Karimannur, Kothamangalam Diocese, as the 3rd of 7 children of late Mr. Ulahannan & Annamma Kalapurackal. After completing her schooling she joined the Ursuline family on 16th November 1954, made her First Profession on 26th December, 1960 and Final Profession on 26th December 1964. She rendered her dedicated service to the poor and downtrodden in Punchakkad, Trikaripur, Pariyaram and Calicut. Out of her 56 fruitful years of religious life, she spent 49 years at Nirmala Convent, Calicut. Sr. Victoria joined Nirmala Convent as one of the pioneers, and served the inmates of Old Age Home with the tenderness of a mother. She also toiled day and night to bring forth fruits from the fertile soil of Nirmala. Her unspoken words, unseen hard works even now whisper in the soil of Nirmala and in the hearts of people. After retiring from her services, Sr. Victoria spent all her time in prayer. Gradually her health became weak and on and off she was getting admitted in Nirmala hospital. For the last time she got admitted on 17th August with complaint of chest discomfort and extreme fatigue. She went into multisystem failure and with the best of medical care; she returned to consciousness and was alive and alert for a few days with the same zeal to bring many more souls to Jesus. She assured us that she was in the company of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and was praying for all of us and for the whole Congregation. On 8th morning, on the birthday of Mother Mary, she became unconscious and started to have labored breathing. The whole community gathered around her praying and the Parish Priest administered the Anointing of the Sick. Our Sisters and Staff of the Hospital kept praying for her all through. I was blessed to be close to her bedside along with Sr. Veena, the Vice Provincial and other sisters of the Communities as she breathed her last at 1.00 a.m. on 9th September. Thereafter the mortal remains of Sr. Victoria, was placed in the Hospital Chapel and sisters kept praying for her. Three of her brothers and other family members of about 100 people reached towards morning and joined in prayers. After the Holy Mass at 6.00 a.m. the body was shifted to the chapel, Brigida Bhavan. The funeral services started at 4.00 p.m. Most Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal concelebrated the Holy Mass with many priests and gave a beautiful oration highlighting the life and virtues of our dear Sr. Victoria. The chapel was packed with Priests, Sisters, Doctors, Staff, Parishioners, Relatives and many others. After the last rites in the chapel, the funeral procession moved to the Holy Redeemer Parish Cemetery. Rev. Fr. John Geolin, the Parish Priest, lead the prayers, gave the last blessing and her body was laid to rest.