Secunderabad: The Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) has mourned the death of one of its members, Sister John Sahya Rani. She died of Covid-19 at the age of 51.
She had been in the Intensive Care Unit for about 12 days and succumbed to Covid-19 at 4 pm on September 30.
She belongs to the congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St Anne, Mumbai Province, and is originally from Trichy, Tamil Nadu, South India.
The funeral took place in the presence of her sisters of the Shrirampur community at 9 am on October 1.
“We are deeply saddened by the unexpected demise of one of our own, Sister Rani. She served the larger society as a nun for 29 years,” said CHAI director general Father Mathew Abraham.
CHAI is the largest Catholic healthcare organization in India.
Sister Rani was the finance administrator of St Luke’s Hospital, Shrirampur, Maharashtra. She was also part of the leadership team that was caring for Covid-19 patients for several months, he added.
In addition to her responsibilities in St Luke’s hospital, Sister Rani was also a board member of the CHAI Western Region.
Mother Maria Rafols and Father John Bonal founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne, the first religious congregation of active life in Spain, December 28, 1804, in the Hospital of Our Lady of Grace of Zaragoza.
In India, they work in the Andaman Islands, Andhra, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Utter Pradesh.
Sister Rani was the fourth of five sisters in her family.
The CHAI family remains in solidarity and prayer with her congregation and her family members during this time of loss and grief. May she rest in peace with Jesus, said Father Abraham.
Sad loss. Respectful farewell to Sister John Sahya Rani. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon the departed soul. Strength and courage to all her loved ones.