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Sr. Theophane – Aleykutty Poovathumoothi
of Bharanganam, Kerala, India
who died at St. Joseph’s Ashram, Jokalandi
on 17th January 2023
aged 92 years, 69 of Religious Profession
Alekutty was born to Mr. Devasia and Mrs. Thresia Poovathum mootil on 13th October, 1931 in the Diocese of Kanjirapally in Kerala. They were 6 children in her family and she was the second born. The family had migrated from Vilakkumadam to Elamkulam. She had to walk 6 kilometers to and fro to school daily. When the students were tired of walking, they would stop and do their homework on the way and then continue their walk. At home, she had to use kerosene lamp for her night study.The religious atmosphere in the school, visit of veteran missionaries from Visakhapatnam mission promoted missionary spirit and vocation in her. Of twenty-four girls in her class twenty of them became religious. Alekutty entered the St. Joseph’s novitiate on 23rd January, 1952, made her first profession on 26thJanuary,1954 and was given the religious name as Sr. Theophane. Later, on 17th January 1964 she made her perpetual profession.
She qualified as a lab technician and pharmacist and worked in many of our health centres and dispensaries. She served the following communities:
1955in S. Kota,
1956 in Parvahtipuram,
1957 JMJ Guntur,
1959 to 1969 in Prathipadu
1969 she did her training in lab technician from KG Hospital
1974 leprosy training in Salur.
After completion of her training, she continued to serve the Salur mission, taking care of the leprosy patients.
1986 she was missioned in Bobbili Hospital,
1987 in Parvathipuram dispensary,
1988 to 1990 she worked as pharmacist in St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore,
1994 to 2001 she was sent to Naduvattam community and was engaged in promoting vocations and in pastoral ministry.
2001 to2005 served in the parish office in Secundrabad, took care of the tailoring center.
2005 she worked in Eluru Dispensary.
2006 to 2011 She was sent to Shantinagar. During this period, she was affected by the Parkinson decease. From then onward she was under medication. 2011 June, she joined the community of Jokalandi where she continued to involve herself in making artistic decorations, flowers and greeting cards. In the year 2013 she celebrated diamond jubilee of her religious profession. She always used to say, “a smile brings miles of smiles” and she had it always. Sr. Theophane was a woman of prayer, courage, determination, and missionary zeal. She was a true missionary worked for the Leprosy and T.B patients.
15 long years she was engaged in eradication of leprosy . As a result of her committed service, leprosy was controlled in 40 villages covering one lakh population. She often said that her apostolate helped her to bring many souls closer to God. She cherished the memories of her activities with contentment. Getting a piece of land from the government of Andhra Pradesh and building a shrine in Prathipadu is one of her accomplished dreams. She was a true missionary like our founder Fr. Medaille, she engaged herself in evangelization, bringing consolation, hope and compassion to the sick, poor and imparting faith. Sr. Jane Lucy in Visakhapatnam Province is one of the fruits of her apostolate.
She had a tremendous faith in St. Joseph and experienced him as her father. All her intercessions were believed to be answered by him so much, so the sisters used to request her to pray to St. Joseph on their behalf to obtain favours through her intercessions. She was always passionate and supported the mission with her prayers to St. Joseph and experienced miraculous interventions. She called him appachan which means father in her native language.
She constantly engaged herself in promoting vocations to the congregation and occupied her mind in reading the scripture, newspapers, weeklies and magazines. She took initiative to share her knowledge with others and encouraged others to acquire it. She enjoyed watching cricket and prayed for India to win the world Cup.
When we think of her the maxim 88 of Fr. Medaille comes to our mind that; “Take care to use the precious gift of time well. Never waste a minute of it. Consecrate it unreservedly to God, with the noblest intentions.” She had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease from the year 2010 and was under medication.
She had a strong desire to live up to 100 years. Her strong will brought her till today, though physically very fragile. Her sharp mind was remarkable and could remember people and place with clarity. For two weeks, she was confined to bed, and she said- it is time for me to go to Jesus. On 17th January 2023 at 6.40 a.m. as the sisters were praying at her bedside she peacefully breathed her last.
May her Soul rest in Peace.