(Feb. 15, 2012 ) Thousands of people are mourning the death of a Spanish nun, popularly
known as “Mother Teresa” of Meghayala State in N.E.India, who revolutionized healthcare
in the rural region. Sr. Amalia Pereda Ortiz de Zarate, spent her entire life working
for poor and illiterate villagers, said Salesian Fr. Francis Cheeramban, who knew
the nun for decades. The Missionary of Christ Jesus nun died at age 84 on Monday
at Nirmali Convent in Shillong, capital of Meghalaya State. She was buried in the
nearby Laitumkhrah cemetery on Tuesday. Fr. John Madur, Vicar General of Shillong
archdiocese led 25 priests at the funeral. Sr. Amalia was renowned for having set
up Shillong’s Nazreth Hospital, Meghalaya’s top health-care institution. She worked
there as the superintendant and a surgeon for more than 25 years. Sr. Amalia joined
the Congregation in 1946 and went to India 15 years later, after completing her religious
and medical studies in Spain. said Sr. Remo, her confrere who works in Tura Diocese.
Sr. Remo said that Sr. Amalia also provided medical care for hundreds of villages
in Meghalaya with her mobile dispensaries.