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Religious Name : |
Sister Mary Pushpalatha of Jesus |
| Maiden Name : | Dorothea Rita D'Souza | |
| Religious No : | 1817 | |
| Native Place : | Kallianpur | |
| Parish : | St. Francis Xavier Church, Udyavar | |
| Diocese : | Mangalore Diocese | |
| State : | Karnataka | |
| Date of Birth : | 30.03.1949 | |
| Date of First Profession : | 10.05.1976 | |
| Date of Perpetual Profession : | 29.04.1981 | |
| Status : | …………….. | |
| RIP | 09-06-2018 |
OBITUARY
SISTER MARY PUSHPALATHA OF JESUS
Inst. No. 1817
“ Well done good and trustworthy servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” (Mt. 25:21)
“ “Pluck this little flower and take it
Delay not I fear lest it droop
And drop into the dust. I fear lest
The day end before I am aware and
The time of offering go by.”(Rabindranath Tagore) ”
Yes, the day had not ended for Sister Pushpalatha. The sun was still on his rounds in his golden chariot. Lo! The heavens opened and the clouds stood in attention on either side. SOMEONE’S gentle steps touched this planet the earth. Slowly, silently He came and stood beside her bed and whispered in her ears, “Come my love, this earthly sojourn is enough, let’s go hand in hand to my Father’s kingdom.” She nodded her yes and went with Him to join the band of the Virgins. It was exactly 4.45p.m.the day had not ended and her offering was complete before the sunset. The Lord plucked this “Little PUSHPA” from the earthly Carmel to adorn His Mother’s Immaculate Heart. Her life’s chapter was closed on the mystery of time.
Nee Dorothea Rita D’Souza saw the first streaks of light on the Thirtieth March in Nineteen Thousand Forty Nine. On the family tree of Mr. Francis Xavier D’Souza and Catherine Lewis, God gave seven fruits of love, four girls and three boys. Dorothea was the second child who was baptized in the Church of Our Lady of Miracles, Kallianpur. Though they hailed from Udyavar, Udupi they settled in Kallianpur, Udupi. Her early education was done in Udyavar and P.U.C with Secretarial Course in Katpadi. Though an inner voice was calling her to follow close she felt her first duty was to support the family. Hence she worked in Bombay for five years and then joined the Apostolic Carmel. After her First Commitment in 1976 she was assigned to Lourdes Convent Bengaluru, to remain there till 1999. Her previous experience in handling accounts was a boon which helped her to handle accounts of the Carmel School at Jayanagar. She also rendered her service for two years at Mary Immaculate Convent Bengaluru. Thereafter she was transferred to Carmel Convent, Modankap to work as a Clerk cum Typist in the P.U. College. She then took charge as a Superior from 2001 to 2004.Once more Lourdes Convent beckoned her to work at the Generalate and in the community, after which obedience beckoned her to come down to Modankap where her presence was very much needed. From 2010-2017 she helped in the accounts of Carmel College. Last year in 2017 she was transferred to St. Maria Goretti Convent Kemmannu.
During her long voyage of life she had rendered her valuable service as First Councillor, Society and Community Bursar, A.C.AAnimator, Librarian and Guest Minister. Her account books give witness to her pearl like writing and perfection. Her silence was golden and her choicest words precious. She did not know the art of raising her voice but only to smile and smile. Silence was her garb while selfless service was her motto. She never sought her comfort at any time. She loved her family members tenderly as well as the sisters of her communities. Students used to follow her as the Pied Piper. She was humble as well as very humane. She never complained of sickness neither sickness entered the portals of her life but…… on the 30th of May we observed her dragging her feet and when we enquired, she complained of a pain in her right leg and swelling in the same leg. So she was taken to Hi- tech Hospital in Udupi. Dr.Umesh Prabhu was consulted; the X- ray did not reveal anything. Assuming that it was Calcium deficiency medicine was prescribed. Since there was no improvement, on 4th June Sister Priya Maria, the Superior took her to the hospital and the result of the lab tests was same. In spite of the second consultation we observed her growing pale and feeble. So she was taken to the hospital for the third time that is on 7th June. On the same day further tests were conducted and it was diagnosed as Leukemia. Dr. Umesh Prabhu with a letter directed us to go to Fr. Muller’s, Mangaluru for further investigation. On the following day that is 8th June, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we had the Solemn Mass in the morning where Sister Pushpalatha participated too. Little did we know it would be the last Solemn Mass for her final home going. At breakfast the community assured her of the prayerful support for her healing as she was to go to Fr. Muller’s Hospital, Mangaluru for the second opinion. Sister Pushpalatha also expressed her great hope for her complete recovery. Soon after breakfast she was taken to the Hospital. At Fr. Muller’s Hospital, Dr. Nishmitha Shetty confirmed the truth though the report of the test conducted in Fr. Muller’s was not ready. Dr. Nishmitha Shetty advised them to admit her on Monday the 11th June. Hence she and the Superior went to St.Ann’s Convent, had lunch, met the Provincial Superior, the sisters of the Provincial house and also the sisters of St.Ann’s Community. The Provincial Superior requested her to remain at St Ann’s Convent but she showed her preference to return to the Community. Before the Superior could inform her relatives about her condition the end came very soon. When she returned to Kemmannu at 2.40 p.m she rested downstairs in the guest’s room. The Superior decided to inform her family members and was able to get connected to one of the nephews, Joel who came immediately. At 3.40p.m she was called for tea but her feeble reply was ‘No, not now’. The entire community was alerted. Since she had bolted from inside sisters tried to enter by lowering a ladder and opening the door. She had already had a brain haemorrhage and was slipping into a coma. At once she was shifted to Hi-tech Hospital and then to Manipal. Fr.Herald Periera the residential Priest of our Parish anointed her, while in the ambulance. Dr. Leslie Lewis was a very great support in directing the sisters. Her dear ones were contacted and by 7p.m almost all her relations came to the hospital but Sister Pushpalatha could not pay heed to their cries. The doctors had given up hope and had put her on mild ventilator.
Sisters Priya Maria and Diana Serrao stayed on to see her life ebbing away moment by moment. Sisters Ida Barboza and Dionetta, her cousin and her people were there on 9th morning. At noon the doctor said that her life’s journey would be completed within two hours. Slowly, silently at 4.45p.m she stepped on to the portals of Paradise. The Superior informed the Superior General Sister Susheela about the going home of our dear Sister. Sister Ida Barboza gave the sad news to the Provincial Superior and her team. The news spread far and near to the relatives and the convents. Her sudden demise was a shock to all the sisters and her loved ones. By 9p.m.her remains were brought to the convent.
The following day that is on 10th June, Sunday the Parish Priest offered the funeral Mass for the people of the locality. By 2.30p.m the remains were taken to St. Cecily’s chapel, Udupi. There was not an inch of space in the chapel as well as in the sacristy and recreation room for the people to sit. Sisters from all over arrived for the funeral. Her three batch mates Sisters Grace Thomas,Maria Karuna, Maria Latha from Kerala and the other Sisters from Bengaluru held a prayer service at Kemmannu. The Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Victor Gerald D’souza with the other ten priests celebrated the Mass. Her beloved nephew Rev.Fr.Noel O.F.M Cap.preached a very touching homily about her life. Sister Maria Lathika paid fitting tribute to Sister Pushpalatha’s sacrificial life with touching words.
After the blessing the remains of Sister Pushpalatha rested on the shoulders of her loved ones for her final resting place. When Simeon foretold the sufferings Mary was to face because of Jesus, she pondered them and kept them in her heart. Similarly Sister Pushpalatha hid all her pains, struggles in her heart making it known to none but God alone. This was evident when Dr.Umesh Prabhu commented about the symptoms of Leukemia and revealed her capacity to endure all these. After her demise he also remarked that such a sudden home going was truly a happy death and only the ‘Blessed of God’ would get it.
Dear Sister Pushpalatha you were a beacon of joy and hope to your kith and kin and to all your sisters. Intercede for all of us that we too might become beacons of sunshine in the place where we live. Before the eyelids of the grave hide you under its mantle we say adieu dearest one till we meet on the other shore to sing the song of the LAMB. Intercede for the entire Congregation to have fervent vocations in the Vineyard of the Lord. Adieu- Rest in Peace.
We voice our heartfelt thanks to Sister Vimala Paul for representing our Superior General and also the other sisters who came all the way from Bengaluru. Our thanks goes to our Provincial Superior and her team for their moral support and presence at the funeral. Sister Ellen Marie was a strong support to us at Fr. Muller’s in our dire need. May God bless her. Thanks to Drs. Umesh Prabhu, Nishmitha Shetty, Leslie Lewis and all the nurses. Thanks to our Parish Priest Rev.Fr. Victor Gerald D’Souza and Rev. Fr. Herald Pereira, the relatives of Sister Pushpalatha, neighbours and parishioners.A very big Thank You to the Superior and the sisters of St. Cecily’s Convent who went out of their way to see to the entire ceremony of the funeral. Grateful thanks to all the sisters and batch mates who came to pay their final tribute. We the sisters of St. Maria Goretti Convent remain grateful to everyone.
BIO – DATA
Date of birth : 30-03-1949
Date of entrance to Postulancy : 15-08-1973
Date of First Profession : 10-05-1976
Date of Final Profession : 29-04-1981
Date of Decease : 09-06-2018
Date of Burial : 10-06-2018
Place of Burial : St. Cecily’s Convent Cemetery, Udupi
