Sr. Althea Jonis, Born to Eternal Life 9/9/03
Dear Friends and Family:
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we write this message. Yesterday afternoon, Sr. Althea Jonis, OSF passed away after a nine-day sickness. Even writing these words it is hard to believe it.
Christy and I are ok, and we are doing all that we can to help Sr. Marie Claire, who loves Althea like a sister and stayed in Haiti past her own retirement age because she did not want Althea to be alone. We are also being supportive for Sr. Uyen and Sr. Irlene, a novice sister who is Haitian and was planning on going to the States in October with Althea.
We will let you know more as we know. We are waiting to here from Althea's family and the from the order in Louisiana what the plans are.
Althea leaves behind her two parents in Florida, her sister and her brother, as well as the family she chose when she became a Franciscan Missionary of Our Lady. The people of Aquin, where she lived, and Ste Helene, where she worked, are devastated, and groups of them have been coming to the house since the news spread. Althea came here fifteen years ago not knowing the language and not even have a place to sleep on the first night. In that time she has built a school, a health clinic, a malnutrition clinic for children, and convent and started education, reforestation, micro-finance and other programs. She leaves behind a great sorrow and a great work that is a testament to her courage and vision and her downright stubborn nature. She is a remarkable woman.
Althea was born on October 23, 1947; and born to eternal life on September 9, 2003.
Please keep Althea, her family and the people of Haiti in her prayers.
God bless-
Tim and Christy Zahner
Aquin, Haiti
Posted by Christy and Tim at 05:56 PM on September 10, 2003 :: Permanent link
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