| Sr Valentina,
fondly known as Sr Val, returned peacefully to the Lord from the
community of St Joseph's Canossian Convent on 18 September 2002, at
the age of 91 years. Sr Val was born in Italy and joined the
Canossian Missionary Novitiate in Vimercate at the age of 24.
During her 64 years as a Canossian Religious Sister, she served in
the missions of England, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. In
fact in her 40 years of dedicated service in Singapore and Malaysia,
she is remembered and loved by many whose life she has
touched. Sr Val was a very good teacher. In school she
enjoyed teaching Religious Knowledge, English and commercial
subjects. Her past pupils remember vividly her patience
and her love, her care and concern for each of them. She
also taught the Italian language to priests and professionals
besides to our Sisters and novices. In the 1980's when
Archbishop Renato Martino was Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore, she
served for a few years in the Nuncio's office in Singapore.
She felt highly honoured to have been able to collaborate in the
preparation for Pope John Paul II's visit to Singapore on 20
November 1986.
The Sisters who have lived with her in
community, especially during the last years of her life, were touched
above all by her prayerfulness, her love for the sisters and
commitment to community life. After her retirement she led a
quiet life, bearing with her pain and suffering with serenity and
patience. Even in her old age she maintained her passion for
life, her sense of humour, her cheerfulness and honest way of
speaking. She had a grateful heart and was deeply appreciative
of the acts of kindness she received. Even in the physical
weakness she was experiencing, she was good at entertaining
people. She would sing her favourite Italian songs for us and
take part in the fashion parade together with the residents of St
Joseph's Home to celebrate Senior Citizen's Week. The favourite
character she portrayed was Pinocchio! She was able to show
her love for God and for others even through singing, example, she
had the knack of applying her favourite Italian love song, "My
love is only for you: Jesus (pointing upwards) and you, and you and
you..." (while pointing to each one present in the room).
Sr Valentina Patto - Canossian Missionary for 40 years in
Singapore & Malaysia. |
Sr Val was truly a missionary according to
the Heart of Jesus. All her life she sought in faith, joy and
trust to do God's will. Her fervent prayer is for young people
to answer God's call to serve Him and His people in the local
Church.
We remember fondly and with gratitude Sr
Val and all the missionaries who have given their lives to make
Jesus known and loved in our country.
Sr Janet Wang |
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