Rev. Sr. Eveline Ekka, DSA., Jalpaiguri province, member of St Anne’s Provincialate Community, passed away on Tuesday at North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri due to Covid-19. She was 76 and served the congregation for fifty yars.
By Sr. Lalita Roshni Lakra, DSA –
‘Mata Eveline’ was how the entire DSA Congregation called Sr. Eveline Ekka out of love and respect. She was born as the first child of her parents John Ekka and Karmela Tirkey on 26.07.1944 in a small village of Dumbertoli Majhatoli (Parish) of Jharkhand. Her baptismal name was Anna Elice Ekka. She did her primary education from St. Anne’s school, Majhatoli and High School from Ursuline Convent Gumla, Jharkhand. She joined the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi on 05.06.1968 after her TTC (I.Com) training. Later she did B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce). Sr. Eveline took her first Profession on 06.12.1970 and final one on 24.05.1977
Sr. Eveline served the Congregation and the Church in various capacities: as young missionary (A Junior Sister), who did pastoral work effectively in Mayabunder Parish of Port Blair Diocese from 20.06.1971 – 26.01.1977; as the Regional Superior cum House (Community) Superior of Andaman Mission from 30.01.1988 -30.05.1994; looked after the college girls at St. Anne’s College Hostel as its Superintendent in Ranchi from 25.05.77 – 15.12.82; taught as an assistant teacher in St. Aloysious School, Ranchi and St. Anne’s Convent Kurpania, Bokaro as Superior : 15.12.1982 – 28.01.1989; served as the Superior of St. Anne’s Mother House (27.01.1994 – 27.06.1999), Ranchi, the biggest community in the Congregation where more than 100 Sisters stay for studies and do various ministries; appointed as Regional Superior of Gumla Region and carried out this responsibility from 27.06.199 – 02.02.2003; and became the 1st Provincial Superior of Gumla Province (2nd Province of the Congregation) on 2nd February, 2003 and served till 12.05.2006.
‘Mata Eveline’ was then sent to Bengal Mission on 13.05.2006. It was a region then. She was appointed as the Local Superior of Mal Bazar Community and Secretary of Pushpika Higher Secondary school Mal Bazar till date. She rendered her service as the Education Secretary of Jalpaiguri Province also. She served Jalpaiguri Province as the First Councilor of the 1st Provincial of Jalpaiguri Province from 28.12.2009 (4th Province of the Congregation was erected on 28th Dec. 2009).
Sr. Linda Mary Vaughan, DSA, Former Superior General, recalls the influence ‘Mata Eveline,’ had on her: “I thought that I will get one more chance to work with her in Jalpaiguri Province. I got an opportunity to work with her as her 1st Councilor in Gumla. She is an inspiration for my vocation to be an obedient, holy, poor in spirit and true missionary in the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi. I will miss her when I go to Jalpaiguri Provincialate. She was so simple, chaste, very motherly, cheerful, prayerful, humble and service minded person. People of Andaman will miss her very much. Her love and laughter. She celebrated her Golden Jubilee (50 years of first vows) of her religious life in December 2020. May the good Lord grant her eternal peace and reward her for all the beautiful things she did in her life.”
Sr. Subhashini Xalxo, DSA, the Delegate Superior of Andaman Mission attests to ‘Mata Eveline’s holiness: “Mata Eveline was so simple, prayerful, punctual, sweet spoken, very cheerful, big heart, kind hearted, dutiful, a person with positive attitude, farsightedness, ever ready to help the people in need, equal behavior, encouraging person, generous, service minded, welcoming heart, good listening skill, person with empathy, gave the best things/stuff to others, gave time to people, she tried to be present physically on people’s sad moments, happy in the joys of people.”
Sr. Shivani Ekka, DSA Secretary to the present General eulogizes Mata Eveline influential role on modern generation: “Many young girls and boys inspired by her life and joined the congregation, Society and many voluntary organization. Her death is a great lose to the congregation.”
I wanted to give a surprise to ‘Mata Eveline’ and so I didn’t inform about my arrival at the Provincial House, Jalpaiguri to meet her on 23rd March, 2021. As she saw me, She was overjoyed and surprised. She was so cheerful as usual. She embraced and kissed me with her motherly love and blessed me. I clicked some photos with her. She was my Mata (Superior) at the Mother House, Ranchi when I was a Postulant. I will miss her lovely and motherly presence in my life.
Sr. Eveline Ekka, DSA breathed her last on 19.05.2021 at 3.00 pm at North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri due to CORONA at the age of 76 after bearing witness to Christian love and service.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace! Amen.