Born : 21.04.1953
Entered Bethany : 15.05.1969
First Profession : 23.04.1973
Perpetual Profession : 10.05.1980
Slept in the Lord : 16.07.2021
Sr Rosia nee Regina D’ Souza (68 yrs) of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Guwahati Province, passed away on Friday 16 July 2021 at Concetta Hospital, Kinnigoli. She was a member of Bethany Convent, Attavar, Mangalore.
Sr Rosia was born on 21.04.1953 to the late Sebastian D’Souza and Concepta D’ Souza belonging to Immaculate Conception parish, Urwa of Mangalore Diocese. She was the third child among five children.
Sr Rosia was a prayerful person. Early to bed and early to rise was her dictum. Hard work with enthusiasm, readiness for any sort of work, courage, generosisty in service love for the poor and slow learners, was a few of her outstanding qualities. Sr Rosia was noted for her missionary zeal.
She has served in different communities of North East in various capacities such as an effective teacher, efficient Headmistress and a loving Superior. She was a member of Mary Mount convent, Mizoram, Holy Cross, Dimapur Nagaland, Holy Cross, Silchar, Holy Cross Agartala and Dharma Nagar and Superior of Bethany Convent Kathalcherra and Bethany Convent Guwahati. She has rendered outstanding service in the field of pastoral and social work too. While at Guwahati she was actively involved in Prison ministry.
In 2019 when Sr Rosia was at Agartala she was losing weight and becoming weaker. Her sickness could not be diagnosed inspite of many medical tests. She was brought to Mangalore in December 2019 for further investigation. She was taken to Fr Muller hospital and was diagnosed to have cancer of the stomach. Thereafter, she was treated under the supervision of Dr Hemanto who took great care of her.
As Sr Rosia’s health was deteriorating and needed hospital care, she was shifted to Concetta Hospital, Kinnigoli on 27th May 2021. Dr Sr Jeevitha BS, Sr Gretta Lobo the Nursing Superintendent and the nurses were very concerned about her health and took great care of her till she breathed her last yesterday, on 16 July 2021 at 6.45 pm. On hearing the sudden death news of Sr Rosia, Sr Rose Celine, the Superior General, Sr Assumpta, Sr Cleopha, Sr Severine, and Sr Prisca rushed to Kinnigoli hospital, paid a loving tribute of Bethany to her and gave the needed assistance to prepare for the final journey of Sr Rosia.
Sr Rosia was cheerful and patient all through her illness. She endured her sufferings with no complains. She used to spend long hours participating in the prayer and worship and adoration programmes conducted by different prayer centres. The Lord was pleased to take her to his heavenly abode after one and half years of her intense sufferings on the day of the Centenary of Bethany’s Foundation, the day of Mary’s feast.
Sr Rosia’s funeral ceremony will be held at Immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoli, on Sunday 18.07.2021 at 3.30 pm.
I extend my sincere condolences to Sr Sangeetha and the members of Bethany Convent, Attavar, Sr Sandhya the Provincial Superior and all the sisters of Guwahati Province who lovingly took care of Sr Rosia.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace
Sr Rose Celine BS
Superior General