Sister Cyril was laid to rest at St John’s Cemetery at 6.45pm on Tuesday.
The burial followed a Funeral Mass at St Thomas’ Church, which was marked by an outpouring of the city’s gratitude towards its dear Sister.
Rinky Sarkar, who was an orphaned child before she was picked up by Sister Cyril, read out a message: “You (Sister Cyril) accepted us the way we were. You saw our potential when others couldn’t and you guided us towards the path of love, education and empowerment…. Through your kindness and compassion, you opened doors that were once closed, giving us the opportunity to flourish and thrive.”
Rinky represented the voices of hundreds of past and present girls of the Rainbow project, started by Sister Cyril in 1983, to give them a home, security and education.
Many of them were there on Tuesday paying their tributes to the Sister, in the church or at the hall of Loreto House and Loreto College. Some shed a tear and some remembered her with fondness and a smile.
The Irish-born educator who made Kolkata her home 67 years ago passed away on June 24 at the age of 86. She had taught children across several generations the joy of sharing with the less privileged.
Students pay tribute to Sister Cyril in the hall of Loreto House on Middleton Row on Tuesday. Pradip Sanyal
At the Funeral Mass, Sister Sabrina Edwards, Province Leader, Loreto Congregation, South East Asia, read out a message from Sister Carmel Swords, general leader, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who lives in the headquarters of the Loreto Congregation in Rome.
Sister Carmel Swords said: “Understandably, there is deep sadness in Kolkata at the death of Sister Cyril Mooney…. Sister Cyril saw the need for quality education for the poor of Kolkata and addressed the issue in her own inimitable way.”
The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sisters)is an international congregation of Catholic religiousleaders founded by Mary Ward.
For those who could notattend, the Funeral Mass and internment were live-streamed.
The over two-hour mass was presided over by the archbishop of Kolkata, Reverend Thomas D’Souza.
“All of us feel that with the passing away of Sister Cyril a light has gone out of our lives. But we are confident that this light that has illumined the hearts, minds and lives of thousands of students for all these years… will illumine our city and our country for many years to come. I am confident that all of you will carry forward this legacy as a loving tribute to this dear and venerable person,” the archbishop said.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of past pupils had gathered at Loreto Day School Sealdah, where Sister Cyril spent 33 years, to pay their tribute to her.
Many turned up at Loreto House to see her body in the afternoon and pay their last respects to her. Sister Cyril was principal of Loreto House from 1972 to 1978.
“Sister indeed was legendary, heroic, a mother, visionary, radical, educational reformer. So many adjectives to describe her. We thank God for the gift of her life... which continues to inspire us and will continue to inspire us in the days to come,” said Sister Sabrina Edwards at the Loreto House hall.
During the Funeral Mass, MP Derek O’Brien read out chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s message. She wrote: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Sister Cyril of the Loreto sisters, an eminent educational reformer, social worker and friend of the poor.... Her contribution... to the empowerment of underprivileged children was immeasurable. My sincere condolences to Sister Sabrina and the Loreto sisters across the country.”
As Sister Cyril’s mortal remains were being taken out of the church, many wept.