Appreciation - Sr Adelaide Gauci

Sr Doreen Cuschieri writes:

Sr Adelaide Gauci passed peacefully away on November 19 after suffering a short illness with Christian fortitude and faith.

Adelaide was a very peaceful and quiet sister of St Dorothy. She followed her calling to the religious life when she was 18 years old. After spending her initial formation in Rome she was transferred to Oderzo where she offered her services in our boarding school and within the community of which she forms part.

Day in and day out she would responsibly be about the many jobs that awaited her round the clock. She was a talented and virtuous lady, in fact for this reason her superiors always trusted her blindly because they knew that she would accomplish all her jobs and many others diligently and intelligently.

Malta welcomed her in the early 1970s. Here again she was very active in our school at Mdina and until a few weeks ago she tended to our sick and aged sisters with loving care and great patience. In all honesty, I cannot remember Adelaide ever impatient or angry. She was in fact the first sister to offer her services whenever the need arose no matter how busy she might have been.

Her good example often spurred us to virtuous acts and a greater understanding towards the weaker members of the group. She helped everyone without counting the cost and with her kindness and gentleness she soon became everybody's point of reference, besides being a genuine friend and religious.

Her many talents kept her very busy because whenever we needed anything we went to her for rescue.

Be it new curtains or fancy biscuits for Christmas she was always prompt to increase the production on demand. One of her hobbies was gardening and with great pride she kept the flower beds always blooming with the season's flora and fruit trees were also cultivated to render their optimum in due time.

Adelaide was a quiet and matter of fact person, she knew what she wanted in life and strove to obtain it.

She was a woman with a strong and determined character and did not allow any beating about the bush. In simplicity and humility she worked for the Glory of Him who had attracted her since her youth. Nothing was too much for Him who had given all to her disinterestedly.

Adelaide tried to alleviate the pain of all the sisters who happened to be sick at one time or another and with great love she would do her utmost to cure their ailment.

These last few weeks Adelaide was helpless; we all tried to heal her wound but it was only the Wounded Healer who succeeded in healing her in eternity.

Her illness procured great pain and discomfort but never did she inconvenience anyone or moan about her pain or discomfort. Instead, she would be interested in others and ask after the sick sisters who were under her care.

May the Good Lord grant Sr Adelaide eternal rest and may we count our blessings for having been favoured with such an exemplary companion among the Sisters of St Dorothy.