PETALING JAYA: Sister Enid Lopez will always be grateful to the late Datin Paduka Sister Enda Ryan who paved the way for her to become an English teacher some 60 years ago.
Enid, 80, said she was 21 when she applied for the job and Sister Enda, the founder and headmistress of Assunta all-girls school, accepted her.
"I taught the English language in the Assunta schools for a long time. I have known Sister Enda all my life.
"I learned from her and I developed through the things she said and her inspiring presence.
"Who and what I am today is due to her," she told the New Straits Times.
Sister Enid said she felt a great sense of how God has honoured and blessed her life, as well as the community, with the presence of Sister Enda.
She added that Sister Enda was undeterred with her missionary work although she was in so much pain and hindered by physical ability when her health deteriorated.
"Now that she is gone and we delve into her life and look more closely into the things she has done, I feel whatever we say in appreciation is nothing.
"It is too little. She was just too great and beyond our reach. We are very grateful, very blessed and very honoured to have had her. Her memory will always be an inspiration."
Former student Debbie Nonis said Sister Enda had worked tirelessly right up to the end as the Assunta Secondary School board chairman.
The 59-year-old said Sister Enda would have gone to an Apr 3 board meeting, which she had organised, but could not attend as she was hospitalised.
Debbie said she had spent two months last year decluttering Sister Enda's 50 years worth of papers, personal items and old photographs, to make way for the rebuilding of the convent.
"It was a tough time for her because it brought back memories.
"She would say something poignant now and then, but she never dwelled on it."
Debbie recalled she was 13 when she met Sister Enda, who was then the secondary school's headmistress.
"Everybody was terrified at the sound of her voice and despite not knowing what she said, everyone would run for cover.
"She had an Irish temper when she was younger but it blew over very fast. But in the recent years, she mellowed much more."
Debbie said Sister Enda had always taught them the spirit of family as she would rally for everyone's help, such as when a fire destroyed the home of siblings living near the school.
"Up to the recent years, she went for every wake that she could. If she knew that an Assuntarian's parent had passed away, she would be there to read her favourite bereavement poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye by the casket."
Assunta Alumni president Tjeannee Yeoh said her fondest memory was seeing Sister Enda dancing and hearing her speak Bahasa Melayu.
"We had our Form Five graduation party and blasted the music. She was there in hall dancing away with us.
"She was always so cheerful, full of laughter and caring. I thought to myself, she was so hip and cool, although she was strict and we were often punished.
"I was very lucky because she retired when I was in Form Five and she was with me all through my secondary years."
Yeoh said the alumni planned to hold a memorial for Sister Enda during their annual event called Breakfast with Teachers.
"We will miss her. She was larger than life. She had been such a huge influence in our lives.
"Now, the alumni's mission is to keep her spirit alive," said Yeoh.
Sister Enda's niece Marie Christie, her husband Victor Healy as well as grand niece Zara and grand nephew Andre Christie flew in from Ireland to attend the funeral mass and cremation today.
Well wishers were given a bookmark each, bearing a picture of Sister Enda, her quote and Frye's poem.
