EULOGY OF SR. IDA Today, we have gathered here with heavy hearts and profound gratitude to celebrate the life of our dear Sr. Ida, a beloved Sr. of…

EULOGY OF SR. IDA

Today, we have gathered here with heavy hearts and profound gratitude to celebrate the life of our dear Sr. Ida, a beloved Sr. of SJT who graced this world for 79 wonderful years and 60 years of religious life. Sr. Ida’s life exemplified patience, compassion, and boundless affection. It was a testament to the depth of her faith, the strength of her spirit, and the beauty of her soul.

Sr. Ida was born on 4 th May 1945 to Mr. Casmir Sequeira and Bridget Sequeira in Chickmangalore. She has an elder brother, 3 younger sisters and 2 younger brothers. At the tender age of 17, she decided to dedicate her life totally to the Lord in religious life. She wanted to be a cloistered sister but was drawn to the sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes under whom she studied in Chickmangalaore. Sr. Emma, her companion says –her spontaneous wit and wisdom were a building relationship. She was a trained teacher and taught in Mercara, Bombay, Coonoor, Gundibala, Chickballapur, SFX School, St. Joseph’s school, that was part of SFX school then and Holy Angels school, and was in charge of the borders in Coonoor, Chitradurga and assisting in St. Joseph’s boarding. She was a mentor, a guide, and a source of inspiration for countless students and boarders who were under her care. Her unwavering commitment to her work and her deep love for people was evident in every lession she imparted and every life she touched.

The students and boarders found in her a role model who taught not just with words but through the kindness of her actions and the integrity of her character. A true missionary at heart, she embraced new challenges and went wherever a new mission called her in obedience. She was the pioneer in such mission centers and remote areas of Gundibala in Karwar, Dholpur in Agra, and Bhopal in MP imparting God’s love with much dedication. She embodied the Gospel call “to go forth and make disciples of all nations”. She was always prepared to leave her comfort zone and venture into new mission centers no matter how far or unfamiliar.

Her courage and adaptability allowed her to reach out to many and touch lives in places where love, faith, and hope were most needed. She saw every new mission as an opportunity to serve God and his people with joy and humility. Her dedication was not just her words but her actions, her patience, and her compassion. Her legacy is one of selflessness, courage, and an unyielding desire to serve God and His people. Her quiet, unique, prayerful, and profound presence with a smile brought comfort and consolation to many, especially to the sick, and the lonely.

She possessed a rare grace one that emanated from her deep contemplation of God and her connectedness to the Divine. Her quiet wisdom and prayerful demeanor reflected a life immersed in the divine and she inspired all who were fortunate enough to know her. Her simplicity, humility, and obedience to the authority were so remarkable, and she accepted everything with a smile. She did little things with much love and passion. Sr. Ida was a person who saw beyond the material world and dwelled in the sacred mysteries of God. Her prayer life was not just a ritual but a vibrant dialogue with the Divine. In her contemplative moments, she found the strength and clarity to live and serve with humility and purpose.

In her family, Sr. Ida was a symbol of unity, a pillar of love, harmony, and togetherness. She had a unique ability to bring people together, foster harmony, and strengthen bonds among the members – to her what mattered was faith, compassion, and togetherness. She radiated warmth and kindness wherever she went. She rendered her humble service in the Provincial house at Tarbes Nivas where she did the household work and radiated joy to all those who lived with her and approached her. From 1990-2004 she was in Bangalore communities engaged in education ministry. From 2010-2016 Sr. Ida was in Goa-Sirlim community being a mentor to the formees and actively participating in the parish activities.

People of Sirlim recalled her smiling face and her heart that listened attentively to their joys and sorrows. Her dedication to her work, her family, and her community was rooted in her deep faith and contemplative spirit. She was a loving friend to the young and the old. 2016 she was once again transferred to Bangalore community in the infirmary because of her ill health. In preparation for her Diamond Jubilee celebration on the 11 th of January she made her 8-day retreat with her companion Sr.Emma ----contemplating on the Passion of Christ, seeking His footprints in her life with a longing in her heart------“My soul is longing for the Lord, when shall I see him face to face”. The Lord granted her desire with the gift of the sacrament of confession, renewal of vows before the Eucharistic presence, and singing the consecration song unto the Lord.

After the retreat, she was overwhelmed with joy and expressed her gratitude to all the sisters. On the 5 th of January on the feast of the Epiphany, which celebrated the Divine revelation of Jesus Christ to the world-----the Lord found Sr. Ida worthy of taking her to himself. At 8.15 am Sr. Ida suddenly collapsed unexpectedly and slipped into the loving hands of our Heavenly Father. Though her passing away has left us in shock, we find comfort in knowing she is at peace, embraced by God she served faithfully throughout her life---God’s perfect time to call her home. She now dwells in the presence of God she loved with her whole heart, her mission on earth complete, her faith rewarded.

As we bid farewell to our beloved Sr. Ida we carry forward the legacy of her dedication, her missionary spirit, and her boundless love. Her life will forever remind us to serve selflessly, live faithfully, embrace each moment as a gift to God, and be grateful. Dear Sr. Ida, you have run your race with grace and devotion. May you rest now in the eternal embrace of the heavenly Father where there is only joy and peace in His presence.

The members of the SJT family and the biological family of Sr. Ida will miss her radiant physical presence but we praise and thank God for the life she lived, we commend her to the Lord and pray that her soul May REST IN PEACE.