Bethany Sr Loyola (78) Dies in Road Accident in Bangalore

Sr Lillis, Assistant Superior General, Bethany Sisters

Bangalore, Jul 31: Sr Loyola (78) passed away in a road accident here on Monday July 30 at 1.45 pm. She had taken two of the 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.

Sr Loyola nee Martha Helen Serrao was born in Kinnigoly, Mangalore on July 29, 1934. She did her primary and high school studies at Little Flower Girls’ High School, Kinnigoly. She entered Bethany Congregation on June 30, 1951, professed on May 8, 1954 and made her final profession in 1960. While in Rome she took a course in theology, pastoral care and spiritual renewal.

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

She was the daughter of Marcel Serrao and Bridget Mathias and the sister of the late Sr Leena BS, the late Sr Regula BS, the late Fr Francis Serrao of Mangalore Diocese, Fr Paul Serrao of Delhi Archdiocese, Julie Monteiro, Theresa Nazareth, Benny Correa and Leena D’Sa.

She was noted for her selfless service specially to the sick, spirit of prayer, hard work and spirit of fortitude. She wrote 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 Bethany has lost a spiritual mother to the sick and the suffering.

The funeral will be on held August 1 at 10 am at Jyoti Nilaya Convent, Kacharkanahalli, Bangalore.