Mother Alba (Teresina) PUGLIA

The Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Welland announce the passing of Mother Alba (Teresina) Puglia into eternal life on Sunday, June 17, 2018 at 5:00 a.m. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her religious family at Sacred Heart Convent. Mother Alba was born on April 5, 1923 in Modica, Sicily, Italy. She was the eighth of eleven children and raised in a deeply Catholic family. She entered the Institute of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa on the 23rd of April, 1944. She made her First Profession on the 21st of November, 1946 and her Perpetual Profession on the 28th of August, 1952. In 1958 she was chosen to be the Superior of a new community that would open in Welland, Ontario and on the 22nd of August of that same year she arrived with four other Sisters to begin her new mission among the Italian immigrants in Welland. From that day until she was no longer able to do so, she visited the sick in the hospital, the elderly in their homes and went wherever she was called even during the night bringing comfort, God’s love and giving wise counsel to everyone in need. She gave of herself freely without counting the cost, and refused to be paid for her works of charity, saying that she did everything for the love of God. She was elected to be the Delegate of Mother General for the Sisters in North America from 1979-1987. In 1988 she was chosen to open a new mission in The Philippines. She established the first convent there and accepted the first candidates to become Sisters. There are now four convents, a school, orphanage, Formation House and over 80 Filipina Sisters of the Sacred Heart serving in the numerous convents around the world. In 2000, with the permission of the Superior General, she began the process of opening a mission in India which eventually came to be in 2004. Although she never went to India herself she was instrumental in the establishment of this new mission. There are now two convents in India and over 20 Sisters serving in the convents in various parts of the world. She accepted her long illness with tranquility and surrender and praying for all those who needed her prayers. In spite of the effects of the Alzheimer’s disease she continued to recognize the Sisters around her and would show awareness whenever prayers were being recited. She was predeceased by her parents and by eight of her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her oldest sister Graziella and her younger sister, Sr. Matilde and by nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces in various parts of the world. Visitation will take place at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 90 Griffith St. Welland on Wednesday, June 20th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Vigil Prayers will be held at 6 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday morning at 10 o’clock. Rite of Committal to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mother Alba’s memory may be made to the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Arrangement in care of