Eulogy of Sister Matilda Immanuel News / by Tarbes Sisters
Our life is a short opportunity to say yes to Gods love. Our death is a final coming home to that love.
Death is a divine beckoning to return home. We get back to our maker. Our desire is to depart and
be with Christ….
A voice we loved is stilled. A place is vacant in our hearts which never can be filled. Our hearts are
broken, our spirit mourn. We know that the angels held you as your body said good bye at 2.45 p.m
on 10 th February 2024
Sr. Matilda was born on 7 th August 1939 in Bangalore. She had six older brothers and one older
sister. She entered Postulancy in 1958. Her initiation to the Novitiate was in 1959. She made her
1 st Profession on 9 th of January 1961. Perpetual Profession was on 9 th January 1967. She did special
cooking training after her 1 st Profession. From 1962 to 2022, 60 long years Sr. Matilda rendered her
hidden services as kitchen administrator in Mercara, Coonoor , St. Joseph’s convent Frazer town, St.
Francis Xavier boarding and Nava Jeevan community .
We are saddened by the death of our beloved Sr. Matilda. She was that rarest flower in the garden
of the sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes. Blossomed and was plucked by the master of the garden when
He wished to beautify the heaven. Sister was humble. In her weakness if she offended someone
she reconciled with them. Asking for forgiveness, was her only remedy in healing wounded
relationships. She was self-sacrificing, to go out of her way to help the needy. Outstanding in
charity, with a radiant smile she carried out her given responsibilities with faithfulness and
dedication. She prioritized in such a way that she could give importance to the concerns of Religious
life and lived an exemplary life. We the sisters admired Sr. Matilda for her simplicity and
willingness to work hard. She was a caring and a loving sister. She was a friend of both young and
old. Young at heart. Patience personified. True daughter of St. Joseph, a silent worker. She was
the only person who knew what each one liked. She adapted to the flow of the trend while she
cared for the boarders as well as sisters. One of the helpers said,” She was indeed a mother to many
of us .”
To her family members and workers she was a mentor. She used to advice them to learn to adjust
and to make sacrifices in order to bring unity and peace in the family. She used to advise the junior
sisters to live the values of the heart and not rely only on studies. Sr. Matilda suffered past eighteen
months due to her ill health but endured severe pain silently,without complaining. Truly she is an
inspiration and example to all of us.
“Death is not extinguishing the light, it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come”.
Said Rabindranath Tagore. Today therefore we gather to honour and celebrate the life of our dear
Sr. Matilda, who touched the hearts of everyone whom she encountered with kindness, humour and
unwavering dedication.
With gratitude in our hearts we implore our Lord to grant Sr. Matilda the bliss of His holy presence,
as we commend her into His eternal care. May Mary our mother and St. Joseph our patron saint
accompany her to the presence of our Lord Jesus.
Dear Sr. Matilda, pray for your sisters and send us blessings from above. Thank you for all that you
have been to us, to your family and to our SJT family. Good bye Sr. Matilda
