Via Gemini -
Sister Olinda (born Emiliana Pereira) was a prominent and beloved teacher who spent over six decades in service. While she is most formally associated with the Bethany Sisters (Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany), her career spanned multiple prestigious convent schools in North and Eastern India, including the locations you mentioned.
Sister Olinda was born on March 30, 1943, in Mangalore and dedicated 63 years of her life to religious and educational service. She passed away very recently, on February 22, 2025, at the age of 82.
- Bhatinda, Punjab: She moved to North India in the early 1960s. She spent a significant period in Bhatinda starting in 1964, where she completed her graduation while serving at the St. Joseph's Convent School (a prominent Bethany institution in the city).
- The Odisha Connection: Sister Olinda was a well-known figure in the Odisha Catholic educational circuit. While you remember her from St. Vincent's Convent School in Berhampur (which is managed by the Daughters of Charity), her official record also highlights her dedicated service at Bethany Convent schools in Paradip and Badibahal (Odisha). In these regions, she was known for her "zealous missionary" spirit and her ability to build strong rapport with students of all backgrounds.
She was far more than a typical classroom instructor; alumni remember her for her multidisciplinary talents:
- The Phonetics Specialist: She was a "very good English teacher" who specialized in phonetics, speech training, and grammar. Generations of students credit her for their command over the English language.
- The Artist: She was equally famous for her creative side, teaching drawing and painting to her students.
- Personality: Described as a person of few words but "silent and serene," she was noted for her deep faith and a contented nature.
After her retirement from active schooling, she remained active in teacher training (specifically NTT students) in Greater Noida for six years. Her final years were spent at the Bethany Convent in Ushamatu (Ranchi). Despite battling health issues in her 80s, she was known for her amazing trust in God and her desire to "live fully" without excessive medical intervention, passing away peacefully in the company of her fellow sisters.
Her passing in February 2025 has led to a wave of tributes from former students across India—from the schools in Bhatinda to the convent corridors of Odisha—who remember her as a "master of love and service."