Mother Eugenia Pantalleresco RIP

Mother Eugenia with Fr Clive Lee and the then Archbishop Vincent Nichols in 2013

The Ursuline Sisters of St Angela Merici in Malta, announced the death of Sr Eugenia Pantallesco on Thursday, 12 August at the age of 83 at Ursuline Sisters Convent, Lija. Her Requiem Mass will be celebrated at Loreto Church, Msida on Monday 16 August 2021 at 9am, followed by interment at Santa Marija Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to the Ursuline Sisters, Sliema would be appreciated.

The Sisters write: "Pray for us, dear Sr Eugenia that like you, we may persevere in the Religious Life. Do pray for us to our dear Lord Jesus Christ whom you have now met face to face and to our Mother Mary who you loved so much especially under the title of Mary Help of Christians that our Congregation may continue to be blessed with more holy religious vocations.

A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. May the Lord grant her eternal rest."

Fr Clive Lee, Parish Priest at St Thomas More's Church in Manor House where Mother Eugenia served until her retirement in 2013, writes: "Everyone in the parish knew her as Mother Eugenia and when she wasn't the actual mother of the house and was back to being a sister in terms of the orders constitution, she was to quote her young Italian friend: 'mother under a cover.'

"Mother Eugenia couldn't help being mother in that she was a mother to her core and when my parents died she became a mother to me. Mother had the ability to stop anyone, child or adult with one of her looks. She also had a sense of humour, a kindness and care for people remembering their birthdays and anniversaries right up to the end.

"Mother Eugenia took her first vows in Malta in 1958. After working in several projects for children in Malta she came to London in 1979 where she founded an international student hostel in Portland Rise and established the Ursuline community in Manor House. The sisters were so loved by the students, that some chose to buy houses in the locality to be close the parish and the sisters. When the hostel closed Mother Eugenia set up a nursery. The sisters' dedication made it a great success both as a nursery and pastorally.

"Her greatest love was the Church, the Eucharist and her devotion to Our Lady Help of Christians. An uncle had ran the seminary in Malta and she loved priests. In many ways she incapsulated the indomitable spirit of Malta that brought it through invasion by the Saracens and attack by the Nazis. Her faith was not to be shaken. The Lady was not for moving and although this could be difficult, one couldn't help admire her and be inspired by her words of encouragement. Mother volunteered to work in the parish as organist and Choir mistress. She was a very good pianist and very good at mental arithmetic. Working as a team on various projects one of her great assets was that nobody could say no to mother. May she rest in peace and enjoy paradise."

LINKS

London: Farewell Mass for Mother Eugenia Pantalleresco 10 September 2013 - www.indcatholicnews.com/news/23195

London: Golden Jubilee of Mother Eugenia Pantalleresco 13 October 2008 - www.indcatholicnews.com/news/283