In the morning of Sunday, 8 September 2024, when the nurse entered Sr. Anna Rosa’s room to help her up, she had found her lifeless. Only a few hours earlier, during the night rounds, she had found her sleeping peacefully.
Sr. Anna Rosa had always had rather frail health, but nothing could have foreseen such a sudden and unexpected end.
Within just a month, three sisters had gone to the Father's house: Sr. Annunziata Bruno, Sr. Maria Pia Molari, and now Sr. Anna Rosa Rodari.
Sr. Maria Pia passed away on 25 august. Although her death had been anticipated due to medical warnings, it still struck hard. That day Sr. Anna Rosa, having received the news of Sr. Maria Pia's death, had said to the nurse sister: "Help me to take my suitcase to put my things in order and prepare the habit to wear, because I will be the next one!" The nurse had replied: "For now I will help you get up because you still have a long way to go!". Who knows, perhaps Sr. Anna Rosa foreshadowed her end, what is certain for all of us is that, her death really took us by surprise.
Sr. Anna Rosa Rodari, known as Giovanna Maria, was born in Valbondione (BG) on 20 September, 1950. She entered the Congregation in July 1968 and began her novitiate on 29 January, 1969. Two years later, on 18 June, 1971, she made her Temporary Profession, and on 2 October, 1976, she made her Perpetual Profession.
Throughout her religious life, Sr. Anna Rosa spent short periods in some of our small communities. However, she primarily served as a teacher at the primary school in Ameglia (SP) from 1975 to 1979, and at the school in Rome from 1979 to 1999. When health issues necessitated her leave teaching, she dedicated herself to secretarial work at the school, always keeping in touch with her former students.
In 1999, she was transferred to Lugo, taking on the role of bursar of the Motherhouse, a responsibility well-suited to her, which she carried out with meticulous and competent precision.
Sr. Anna Rosa had fragile physical health, which had significant impact on her community and apostolic life, which were marked by alternating periods of active and dedicated commitment and times of more precarious engagement.
As long as her health permitted, she was a dedicated promoter of the Apostleship of Prayer, actively collaborating and faithfully participating in the various meetings of the national secretariat of the association.
In the community, she was always ready to assist the sisters who sought her help, and when her health permitted, she was also sociable and cheerful.
The last three years of her life were spent in the infirmary, cared for by our nurse sisters with gentleness and competence.
Let us pray for Sr. Anna Rosa, confident that now, in the Father's house, she will intercede for all of us and for her beloved Congregation.
Mother Mariarita Foli