IN MEMORIAM

S. MARIA DOLORES VERASTIGUE URTOLA, RVM

(April 03, 1936 – June 01, 2019)

S. Maria Dolores Verastigue Urtola who hailed from Balubad, Atimonan Quezon was the second child of Leodegario Urtola, a respectable carpenter, and Francisca Verastigue, a professional nurse who chose to fully devote herself in raising her children. She had eight siblings but three of them died in their infancy. She grew up with her siblings under the care of their parents who were pious and always grateful for the overflowing graces of God. Her father also instilled in the minds and hearts of his children the virtue of humility. These values built an atmosphere of thanksgiving, joy, and faith in God in their family.

The religious atmosphere at home motivated S. Dolores and her siblings to enter religious life. Two of her sisters entered a diocesan congregation and a contemplative order, and would have fully embraced their chosen life had they not been ill. Her youngest brother and one of her nephews are ordained priests.

Born on April 03, 1936, noon time and Good Friday, she was given the name Dolores but contrary to her name, she was a happy person. To many, she was known as S. Joy. She received the sacrament of baptism three weeks after her birth and was confirmed on December 29, 1938.

While in fourth grade, Dolores heard God’s call to religious life. She was inspired by the two sisters of the Daughters of St. Paul who sold books to her father. The seed of vocation grew and soon, she decided to join the Franciscan Sisters, but she was not given permission since her mother was about to give birth that time. Earnest in her desire, she made her novena to our Lady of Perpetual Help that she may be allowed to enter religious life. On the eighth day of novena, her mother died. She was in great pain both for losing her mother and for the necessity to let go of her vocation so she could take care of her baby sister who also died nine months after her mother.

Painful it may have been, the death of her youngest sister brought her a new life, a life consecrated to God. With the permission and assurance of her father and grandmother that they will take care of her other siblings, she was finally able to respond to the call of God. Through the recommendation of the mother of an RVM Sister from her hometown, Mother Remedios Enriquez, she chose to join the RVM Congregation.

She was accepted to postulancy after five years of studies at St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan. For her, her initial formation was a time for learning and re-learning, a growth in virtue, and intense love for God and service. She narrated that her life was not a bed of roses but God had been so faithful to her. She made her first profession on February 02, 1961 and perpetual profession on February 02, 1967. She celebrated her silver jubilee on February 02, 1986 and golden jubilee on February 02, 2011.

She served the Church and the congregation as a teacher, principal, local econome, local superior, canteen and Library in-charge. She enjoyed teaching kindergarten for ten (10) years. She was in Immaculate Conception College, Davao City for ten (10 years) as a procurator and teacher and St. Mary’s Academy of Caloocan for thirteen years as canteen, library and research center / TLE laboratories in-charge. She acknowledged that she became a better religious in the mission through the trust, affirmation and loving support of her Superiors. She persevered because of the grace of God and through the exemplary lives of the Sisters whom she worked with.

S. Maria Dolores loved simplicity, poverty and contentment on what the community can provide. She was resourceful, industrious, thoughtful and caring. At St. Joseph Home, when at her best health, her sensitivity to the needs of her fellow Sisters in the ward was expressed in her effort to help them in their wheelchair and gather food trays in one place. This simple gesture of kindness and her endearment of calling Ate all those who took care of her speaks of values deeply embedded in her being.

She grew up in a home filled with joy, gratitude and faith in God, and held on to these gems through life. This is beautifully articulated in her prayer: “I thank You God for the gift of perseverance. This is the greatest gift I received from You. In spite of my nothingness You chose me, I am not talented nor beautiful to be Your bride but here I am. . . How could I thank you enough my Lord? All I can offer you is only my person - - of what I am, including my frailties and infidelities which are not hidden to You. I thank you for accepting the whole of me. All that I am – Lord, Thank You.”

S. Dolores was transferred to St. Joseph Home in 2013 because of her health condition. In the peaceful morning of June 01, 2019 at exactly 2:35, in gratitude, she gave back her life to God. She died because of chronic kidney disease.

Thank you, S. Maria Dolores, for the gift of your person. Thank you for the eighty years (83) of life here on earth and fifty eight (58) years as Religious of the Virgin Mary. May our Risen Lord welcome you in His Father’s heavenly abode. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Joseph, and Mother Ignacia accompany you towards everlasting peace and joy. May your grateful heart continually rejoice with all the Saints in heaven. Farewell, our dear S. Dolores, our dear S. Joy!

Eternal rest grant unto S. Maria Dolores, O Lord, 

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. 

Amen.