“Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful …, enter into the joy of your Master.” (Mathew 25:21)
Today we have gathered around a loving religious, Sr. Stella Chiramel, who captured the hearts of many and whose presence was a source of comfort to all, especially the poor and the marginalised. She had the joy of living 70 years of dedicated and credible religious life and 91 years of fruitful earthly life, who slipped into the loving arms of the Master and Lord on 14th July 2022.
Sr. Stella was born on 9th September in 1931 at Porathur inThrissur District to pious and God- fearing parents, Mr. Chacko and Mariayamma, as their eldest daughter. She had two brothers and a sister who became a nun in Franciscan Clarist Congregation. After the high school education, she had a great desire to live totally for Jesus as a consecrated religious. Though there was much objection from parents, she was very firm in her decision and was ready to take the risk. She joined the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross in the year 1949, made her First Commitment in 1952 and Final Commitment in 1956.
Sr. Stella was abundantly blessed with the gifts of heart, mind and soul. Deeply in love with Jesus and His Mission guided by the promptings of the Spirit, Sr. Stella served the Congregation in the Provinces of Trichy, Madurai and Angamaly in different capacities as a dietician in the government hospital at Trichy, animator of the communities of Thellakom, Vettimukal, Munnar, Batlagundu and Madurai Provincialate, Province bursar of Trichy and Madurai, in charge of needle work section, garden in charge, assistant in Nirmala Society at Munnar. She was very respectful of the authority, deeply in love with the Congregation, and could inspire and lead others. She was very motherly, affectionate and caring, cheerful and welcoming, kind and compassionate. She maintained confidentiality and the sisters were quite free with her.
Calmness and gentleness were the hallmark of her life. Though she preferred to stay away from lime light, she was behind many good things that have happened in the communities where she lived. “They have no wine.” This was usual attitude of Sr. Stella who played the role of Mother Mary at Cana, with her great sensitivity, observation, deep concern and care for the community and its members.
As a bursar in the Provinces of Trichy and Madurai, her farsighted vision, clear thinking, transparency, meticulous planning and accuracy in matters are very remarkable. We appreciate the tireless effort put in for the construction of Madurai Provincialate.
Sister had a soft corner for those in the peripheries of the society following the teaching of Jesus, “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” The charitable attitude towards the poor and needy and the way Sr. Stella has reached out to them are truly admirable. Her radical living of the vow of Poverty is inspiring. The inner purity of her soul overflowed in all her dealings and activities and her cleanliness and orderly ways reflected the same.
Sr. Stella was in the Provincialate community at Angamaly in the evening of her life, helping in the house with her prayer and presence, from 2009. She was deeply committed to the Lord in every detail of life. In all her works she was diligent and focused. She gave her best in all that she did. Faithfulness to duty characterized her life.
Sr. Stella was a woman of faith and prayer who gave utmost priority to her spiritual life as well as to that of the community. She was a person of Grace and lived her religious vocation with a passion to proclaim the Good News of Jesus.
Sister had a fall on13th May 2022, and was taken to the MAGJ Hospital at Mookanoor due to hair line fracture on pelvis, Tibia. From then she was confined to bed. She was given the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick on 27th May 2022. For a few days she showed signs of improvement. She was taken care by sisters of the Community along with the timely help rendered by sisters from different communities. She found difficulty in taking the food and survived only with the liquid.
She began to pray all the more, calling on the name of Jesus, Mary and Joseph from 13th July. She attended On-line Mass and received Holy Communion on 14th morning. She breathed her last so peacefully and surrendered her life to the Creator in the presence of the sisters of the community at 10.45 am.
Dear Sr. Stella, you lived a very exemplary life and we thank God for your long years of life He has given you to strengthen us on our journey. As you join our sisters who have preceded us in our heavenly Father’s house, we know you will continue to intercede for us. With great love in our hearts, we wish and pray that you enjoy eternal bliss for which you eagerly awaited.
Fond Adieu dear Sr. Stella till we meet again.
Sisters of Provincialate Community
Province of Angamaly
