By SSFS
“Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink.” (Matt 25:34-35)
KUCHING — The Word of God from Matthew 25: 34-35 echoed by the presider Archbishop Simon Poh in his homily at the concelebrated funeral Mass of Sister Therese Harry at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching on 2 December 2023, fittingly summed up the life of Sister Therese, affectionately known as Mother Therese, daughter of Mr and Mrs Stephen Harry. She was baptised as Maria Leonora at St Joseph’s Cathedral when she was just two days old.
On 26 December 1955, at age 25 she entered the Sisterhood, then known as the Little Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak. She was among the first batch of five postulants to receive religious formation under the local Congregation based at the new Convent of Mary Immaculate, Padungan.
She received the religious habit on 16 July 1956 and made her First Profession on 10 August 1958. Five years later on 30 November 1963, she professed her final vows.
After her First Profession she was appointed to Serian, initially teaching at the Mission’s primary school till 1962. Having worked as an assistant nurse previously, she was thus sent for midwifery training. She graduated and obtained her certificate from the Sarawak General Hospital at the end of November 1964.
Thereafter, she was posted to the Home for the Aged at Sacred Heart Convent, Mile 12, Jalan Penrissen. Young, energetic, and enthusiastic, she regularly went on a medical and pastoral mission to Kampung Tiang Bekap until 1966. She was then transferred to Long San, Baram where she committedly served the people of God there for nine months before returning to Kuching.
Sr Therese is closely associated with the Sarawak Cheshire Home where she was a nurse cum matron who humbly and patiently took care of residents with special needs from 1969 to 1991 (22 years). She had attended several in-service relevant refresher courses pertaining to her ministry. In recognition of her dedicated welfare service to the disabled and physically challenged, the Sarawak Government in 1981 awarded her the Bentara Bintang Sarawak (BBS). She was also keenly involved in the Legion of Mary.
In 1994 she was appointed community animator in Mukah. She became critically ill and was hospitalised in Sibu in February 2003. She shared that while in the intensive care unit, she had a vision of Mother Mary sweetly telling her to “go back” to earth.
After her hospital discharge, she recuperated at the Home of Santa Clara Kuching for about one year before being stationed in Serian Convent where she helped out in small ways. By the grace of God, on 23August 2008 she, together with her two fellow groupmates, joyously celebrated their Religious Profession Golden Jubilee.
She had also stayed at Nazareth Day Nursery Convent from January 2009 to December 2010 (2 years) and played her small role accordingly. Then in January 2011 she was transferred to Padungan Convent where she fully retired from active ministry. She remained physically healthy and mentally alert. She was very fervent in praying the Rosary.
On 1 September 2018 she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. In November 2023 she was warded for several days at Timberland Medical Centre as she was suffering from hernia. She received the last Sacrament as well as Holy Communion on 27 November 2023 at Padungan Convent, and was supposed to be officially transferred to the Home of Santa Clara BDC on the same day, but due to her severe health condition she was re-admitted to Timberland Medical Centre for one day.
On 30 November 2023, she was accommodated at the Home of Santa Clara where she breathed her last peacefully on 1 December 2023 at 12.36 am.
We celebrate the life of Sister Therese Harry who has inspired us to love and serve our Divine Master zealously. We are assured that with open arms He has welcomed her to the heavenly home promised to those who faithfully do His holy will.
