Sr. Severina knew that her last days were approaching and she deeply felt that God was calling her to her true home. She was aware of Christ’s invitation, “Come, you blessed by My Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). In our faith we can take great comfort in knowing this, not only because Sr. Severina is now released from her pains but because we know of the very good work she did in life. She prepared well for her passing from this world by living well, by living the Gospel which gave her a window into God’s wisdom she shared with all of us. We heard from those whose lives she touched how they felt her acts of kindness, her interest in their well-being and her impact as a religious on their lives; as teacher/instructor at SJC College of Arts and Sciences, and Royal Carpenter Academy (Colegio San Jose de Alaminos); as treasurer of the Province, at the SFIC Finance office and Colegio San Jose de Alaminos; as bookkeeper at SJC-QC Finance office and SJS Mactan; as comptroller and procurator at SJC-QC; as coordinator of SJC-QC Auxilliary Services; as Physical Plant Superintendent at SJS Mactan; as Department Chair at SJC-QC Commerce Department; as College Dean at SJC-QC College of Arts and Sciences; as Regional and Provincial Councilor, Local leader, Substitute leader, Local Councilor and Rural missionary. She had the very rare combination of top talent and excellent interpersonal skills.
Sr. Severina is gifted with God-loving and God-fearing parents who first planted the seed of religious vocation in her heart and nurtured it through the years through their prayers and good examples. She was born on December 23, 1936 to Andres and Severina Aquino in Mangaldan, Pangasinan. Her baptismal name is Imelda. She considered Sisters Gregory Salvador and Bernadette Sison as God-sent, for they continued to nurture her vocation until she was ready to answer YES to God’s initial call. Indeed, God has gifted her with countless blessings: a God-centered family, a happy home, success in school, natural goodness and virtue, good health, adequate material resources, as well as limitations and weaknesses. After graduation from High School, she expressed her desire to enter the convent but her mother hesitated because she was only 16 years old then. She was persuaded to study Nursing to be able to assist her brother who just graduated as a doctor from the University of Santo Tomas (UST). But Sr. Severina insisted that responding to God’s call was God’s will for her and that she was ready to follow Him no matter what happens. Finally, she obtained her mother’s wholehearted permission and support. Her mother even composed a poem “My Rose” dedicated to Sr. Severina. Her family brought her to the Little Flower Novitiate in Baguio City and they were present on her Veiling Day on June 15, 1954. She was finally professed on May 31, 1959.
For her educational attainment, she obtained the degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting from UST in 1963; Master of Science in Commerce major in Management from UST in 1970; and Master of Arts in Franciscan Studies at St. Bonaventure University, USA in 1985. In 2010, she had a pacemaker insertion and she was diagnosed with a breast cancer in 2013. There were times when she suffered from bronchial asthma and her hospitalization last April this year was due to pneumonia. Her cancer has metastasized to her liver and bones and this last two weeks, her fever was on and off. She fought a brave and difficult fight and dealt with the rigors of her treatment without complains. Our life is such a mystery, a gift of God, and all we really know is that one day this life gift will return to its source, the Giver of Life. The passing of Sr. Severina provokes thoughts of gratitude for the 85 years she lived among us. We are grateful for all that she gave us as an SFIC for 68 years and for all that she allowed us to give to her. In the face of this great mystery of death, we must rely on faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love, and love never fails. Let us console one another with this knowledge.
Death is not the end but a new beginning. Sr. Severina sowed seeds of goodness that have sprouted, grown and lived on in her community, in her students, in her family, in all her friends, and in all the people and other lives she touched. She was a kind of rock in the community on which we could always lean on. She was a loyal friend and much appreciated as a support in times of difficulty and sadness. She was unassuming yet sat behind many a success story. She excelled in her ministries. She was known to be fair, gentle, kind, humble, generous, hard-working and a woman of integrity. In all she did, she taught others how to live and love life, the greatest gift God has given us. Our respect and admiration for her are immeasurable. She was a great mentor to many people and in all the places where she was assigned over the years. We will continue to hold her many valued memories. We say farewell for now and we entrust to God and celebrate the life of Sr. Severina who left as a legacy of a virtuous life. Thank you Sr. Severina for being what God meant you to be, your long rich life of prayer and witnessing for the love of God. We will miss you. You can rest now in peace and joy. You will remain in our hearts forever.