SHILLONG: Sr. Bernadette Simsang Sangma, a renowned nun of Tura, who dedicated her life for the welfare of women and young people, passed away on Monday at the age of 53.
She was the third child born to George N. Marak and (L) Lucia S. Sangma of Bishop’s Compound, Tura.
Sr. Bernadette obtained her Doctorate in Methodology of Education from the Pontifical University of the Salesians in Rome. She spent most of her years serving at the Generalate of the Salesian Sisters in Rome in the capacity of a consultant to the Salesian Family Sector in the years 1998-2011.
Her expertise was seen in the field of the empowerment of women. In this quality, during her thirteen years of service, she had represented the congregation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for its annual meetings and conventions.
She was instrumental in obtaining an affiliation of membership of the Salesian Sisters in the United Nations Organization. After which she was entrusted with the work of conducting the side event of the UN at New York.
In 2011, when this mission was accomplished she longed to come back to Meghalaya but the Major Superiors entrusted her with a new mission as the Director of the Institute of Youth Ministry (IYM) at Tangaza College, Nairobi, Kenya, where she had been a visiting professor since 2006.
With a short span of two years Sr. Bernadette selflessly worked for the recognition of the IYM which has been running for many years.
In her third year of service in the college her deteriorating health forced her to discontinue the task and return home for treatment.
Sr. Bernadette was much loved for her virtue of humility and simplicity.
Intelligent yet unassuming in her ways, she managed to win the hearts of many young lives that came into contact with her.
