Born :21.07.1932
Entered Bethany :13.06.1955
First Profession :01.05.1957
Perpetual Profession :04.05.1963
Entered Eternity :11.01.2025
Sr Cleta, winged her way to heaven at 4.30 am on January 11th 2025 at St Eude’s Convent, Westhill. She was 93 year old and 68 years in religious life. Sr Cleta nee Annakkuty, hails from Thodupuzha, Idukki. She is the youngest among the nine children of late Varkey and Annamma Thadathil.
She joined Bethany on 13.06.1955 and made her First Profession on 01.05.1957 and perpetual profession on 04.05.1963. She was a woman of prayer and was noted for her virtuous life. She was the first vocation from her family and was an inspiration to many of her nieces who joined various congregations and one among them Sr Annie George is in Bethany. Her little acts of mercy and charity towards each and every one were admirable. Even when incapacitated she could recall all the prayers and utter them loudly and clearly. She would be prompt to rise early to attend to all her spiritual and community exercises in spite of her ill health. One could always find her at prayer before the Blessed Sacrament focused on Jesus. She was very kind and generous especially towards the poor and needy. She had great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and Mother Mary.
Sr Cleta was a zealous missionary. She was a pioneer of Andhra mission as well as its first superior. She enjoyed her consecrated life in Bethany. The various missions and missionary activities offered a setting for Sr. Cleta to give her very best in loving service to all. Her services at Dornahalli as a government appointed post master, and nurse in the dispensary are praiseworthy. As a teacher she rendered her dedicated services at Santa Cruz Convent Kulshekar, Fathima Convent Dornahalli, St Joseph Convent KR Nagar, St. Joseph’s Convent Kalpetta, St Paul’s Convent Thenhipalam, St. Antony’s Convent Andhra Pradesh, Bethany Convent Pilakavu, Bethany Convent Chathamangalam, Bethany Provincial House Chevayur and Eudes Convent West Hill. She loved and cared for the children and was taking tuition for the children even in her old age.
For the past 3 years Sr Cleta’s health condition deteriorated due to old age related ailments. During the time of her illness, she accepted her pain in a spirit of faith surrender. She was hospitalized one month ago and was recovering and on 8th January onwards she was intensely suffering with chest congestion. Sr Lillis and community members were close to her and were supporting her with prayer and presence. She was administered the last sacrament by parish priest around 7.00pm on 10th January 2025. There after the sisters kept watch and prayed for her. This morning at 4.30am the call of her beloved came and Sr Cleta serenely and peacefully flew to heaven.
I extend my sincere condolences to Sr Judy Varghese BS the Provincial Superior of Southern Province, and all the sisters of the province, especially to Sr Lillis the local superior of Eudes Convent, West Hill and the sisters of the community.
The funeral mass will be celebrated at 3:00pm on Sunday, 12th January 2025, at St. Michael’s Church, West Hill, officiated by Rev Dr Jerome Chinganthara, Forane Vicar of Calicut. The mortal remains will be blessed by Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil, Bishop of Thamarassery Diocese and will be entombed at West Hill cemetery.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and perpetual light shine upon her; May she rest in peace.
Sr Rose Celine BS
(Superior General)