By Sr Lillis B S
Asst. Superior General, Bethany Sisters

Bangalore: Sr Loyola (78) had a sudden death on 30 July at 1.45 pm in Bangalore due to a road accident. She had escorted two of the convent Sisters namely Sr Celsa and Sr Luvilla to St John’s Hospital for a medical check up.  The accident took place while they were returning from the hospital.

Sr Loyola nee Martha Helen Serrao  was born in Kinnigoly, Mangalore on 29 July 1934. She did her primary and high school studies at Little Flower Girls’ High School, Kinnigoly. She entered  Bethany Congregation on 30 June 1951; Professed on 8 May 1954 and made her final profession in 1960. She has done her course in Theology, Pastoral Care and Spiritual Renewal in Rome.

She was a pioneer in Bethany’s missions in North Karnataka, Nagaland, and Germany. She has served at Bethany Bendur, Dharwad, Gadag, Kohima, Germany, Rome, K.R. Nagar, St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, and  Jyoti Nilaya, Bangalore.

She is the daughter of Marcel Serrao and Bridget Mathias, and the sister of late Sr Leena BS, late Sr Regula BS, late Fr Francis Serrao, Fr Paul Serrao of Delhi Archdiocese, Julie Monteiro and Leena D’Sa. She is noted for her selfless service specially to the sick, spirit of prayer, hard work and spirit of fortitude.  She writes in her vocation story, “The recitation of Rosary is a great means for my perseverance. The crosses, crisis, difficulties and storms of life did not deter me in any way, but enabled me to forge ahead with hope.” In her death, Bethany has lost a spiritual mother to the sick and the suffering.

Funeral will be on August 1, 2012 at 10.00 am at Jyoti Nilaya Convent, Kacharkanahalli, Bangalore.