Obituary: Sr Bertha BS (91), Mangalore

By Sr Mariette BS, Provincial Superior, Mangalore Province
Bellevision media Network

Mangalore, 26 July 2011: Sr Bertha BS (91 years), nee Juliana Pinto, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Mangalore, passed away on 26.07.2011 at Maryvale Convent Kinnigoly at 9.35 am. A native of Kinnigoly parish, she joined the Congregation at the age of 13. Having completed her studies at St Margaret Mary School, Bendur and SSLC at St Agnes High School, Bendur, she went through her initial formation for religious life in the Congregation. She made her first Profession on 08.05.1944 and final Profession 10.05.1942. She was the first headmistress of the Little Flower High School, Kinnigoly, which is the first school of the Congregation in which she rendered 19 years of service at two different intervals. She has also served as headmistress at Nirmala Girls High School, Sagar in Shimoga for 12 years.

 

 

After her retirement from teaching service she served as the Headmistress of St Joseph’s Agricultural School, Vamanjoor, and also assisted at St Antony’s Charitable Institutions, Jeppu as an Editor of the Bulletin Little Visitor. She has served as Superior of Maryvale Convent, Kinnigoly, Rosa Mystica Convent, Kinnikambla and St Raymond’s Convent, Vamanjoor.  She spent her retired life at Santa Cruz Convent, Kulshekar  where she took ill. She was then transferred to Mayvale Convent Kinnigoly for treatment and nursing care.

 

Sr Bertha was a spiritual person deeply in love with the Blessed Sacrament. She would spend hours together in the chapel to pray to God for the Congregation, the Church and the world at large. She was a good writer and has authored two books, “From the Lips of the Founder” and “Monsignor Raymond – a Mystic and a Prophet”.

 

She was an efficient teacher and an able administrator. In her passing away she leaves behind a host of students, many of whom have become religious Sisters in different Congregations especially in Bethany. She is loved and admired by the people for her ingenuity, her wit and humour, and her capacity to love and converse.

 

Her funeral ceremony will take place at Immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoly on 27.07.2011 with Mass at 10.30 a.m.  Her mortal remains are laid in state at Maryvale Convent Chapel for the public to pay their respect. May her soul rest in peace.