Tribute
SISTER TERESA ANTHONY CARAPIET FC
(15th.
August 1931 – 26th. October 2017)
by
Angelina Talu Chakrabarty (grand niece)
Shortly after finishing High School in Loreto,
Bow Bazar, Calcutta, Lorna Carapiet entered the Novitiate in St. Helen’s
Kurseong in 1947 at a very young age. She pronounced her first temporary vows
on 29th. September in St. Helen’s, and was appointed class teacher
of the little children for some years. It was there that she revealed her sweet
playfulness as an entertaining teacher: qualities she evinced all her life.
It is God who gives noble qualities
to his creatures. He gave them to Sister Teresa Anthony: a thousand facets
ground and burnished by family and teachers, co-religious and friends, the
sheen of her pre-possessing personality, and the steadfastness of her
friendship. A diamond of the first water, that never let anyone down.
She held
positions like assistant and superior in other places like St. Agnes' in Howrah
and St. Vincent’s, Kidderpore. She did pioneering work in Jorethang, South
Sikkim, getting very many families over to the Catholic faith by the simple
expedient of visiting them in their homes. The then Bishop Eric Benjamin
praised her at a meeting of the priests and religious in Darjeeling, commending
her as the apostle of evangelization, in fact, the only one. Another great
achievement was her success over the attempts of the then Marxist government in
West Bengal to take over St. Agnes School, Howrah. The case lasted about three
to four years, but with the help of reputed lawyers and priests like Fr. Sheehy
SDB, the Jesuits and Bishop Alan D’lastic, she came out victorious. This was,
indeed, a test case, since if she had lost, the other schools would have been
in danger of being taken over by the Marxists. On 29th. September
2017 she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, and on 26th. October 2017
she ascended for her eternal jubilee.
The fact that I am writing this is almost unbelievable.
It's going to take
time to understand that Aunty Lorna won't be around anymore. There are
absolutely no words to express this, but when you're someone as special as
Aunty Lorna, one must try.
She wasn't just any
ordinary woman. Apart from dedicating her life to God, she dedicated her life
to every single person she met. She changed so many lives for the better. I
know everyone who is sitting here today can testify to the fact that,
if you met her just once, you went back home a happy person.
For my family Aunty
Lorna was everything. Every small problem, every big event, every little fact
was known to her. Be it a school concert, be it a family problem, or even a
trivial fact like potlu or myself got a fever. I remember her coming every
month to the house and never once forgetting to bring something for every
single member of my family. I ask God for immense strength to help my family
and me as we try to recover from this loss.
There are some things
I would like to say to her.
Dear Aunty
Lorna,
You meant the world
to me. There is nobody who can take your place. Here onwards I hope you look
down on us and guide my family and me through every single step. You are
and will always be the pillar of strength that we rest on. Though what I feel
now is in-expressible I know that we all should celebrate the beautiful
life that you lived. You always made sure we were happy, so every time I think
of you I will smile. You touched all our hearts in a way only we
understand.
I hope heaven is
filled with Hershey's chocolates, dogs, and beautiful songs that you enjoy
singing. I love you and you will always live on in our hearts. Until I see
you, somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, where there's a land that I've
heard of once in a lullaby.
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