Sister Nimmie shares this on the passing of Sister Bridget V:
On Thursday evening, just before supper, I quietly stepped into Sister Bridget’s room where she lay peacefully, her fingers moving rhythmically over the smooth beads of her rosary. When I asked what message I should take to our sisters whom I was to visit the next day, she looked up with that familiar, serene smile and said gently that she did not feel unwell.
Her calm assurance filled me with quiet warmth. I remember leaving her room comforted by her spirit, unaware that it would be our last exchange.
Now we gather in gratitude and reverence to celebrate the life of Sister Bridget Vadakeattam. She was a woman of God whose compassion touched countless hearts; a nurse who tended the suffering with tenderness; a teacher whose wisdom shaped minds and souls; and a counselor whose gentleness brought healing where words alone could not. Her light now shines ever brighter in the presence of the One she so faithfully served.
Born July 31, 1942, in Kanjiramattam, India, Reetha Joseph was the fourth child of the late Ouseph Mathew and late Annamma Mathew. Surrounded by her family’s steadfast faith, Reetha’s childhood was steeped in prayer, love and a quiet spirit of service.
She was known for her tender heart and watchful eyes. She was always noticing who was in need, always ready to share what little she had. That deep empathy, nurtured by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, would blossom into Sister Bridget’s lifelong vocation of love, healing and service to God’s people.
She entered the congregation Aug. 9, 1966, made her temporary profession Feb. 7, 1969, and pronounced her final vows June 21, 1974. Throughout her religious life, Sister Bridget was marked by simplicity, prayerfulness and an unwavering commitment to the poor and the sick.
Her ministry spanned decades of loving service in India and Nepal. She began as a nurse at Nazareth Hospital, Mokama (1969–73), and later dedicated herself to community health in Mokama (1973–77) and Kathmandu (1977). Her compassion for the marginalized found special expression during her years in Gomoh (1977–82) and Dhanbad (1982–83), where she worked among people affected by leprosy, bringing healing and dignity to those often shunned by society.
Her missionary zeal took her to Bakhtiarpur (1983–84) and later back to Mokama, where she served as a teacher (1985–88), Nursing School in-charge (1994–99) and OPD supervisor (2000–03). In each role, she combined professional excellence with a tender heart, mentoring younger sisters and students with patience and wisdom.
Even after three and a half decades of active service, her care for others never waned. From 2004 to 2014, she served as a counselor at Kakkavayal, offering spiritual and emotional guidance to those in need. In her later years, she retired to Chandapura, where she lived quietly in prayer and community.
Those who lived with her remember her serenity and deep faith. Her life was her message. She was a quiet, steady witness to the love of God and the joy of a life lived for Him.
Her nieces, nephews and family members remember her unconditional love.
On Oct. 11, 2025, a week after surgery for a fractured hip, the Lord gently called her home. Though her physical presence is gone, Sister Bridget’s life reminds us that holiness is often found in the ordinary and in doing small things with great love.
Her legacy endures through her decision to donate her body to medical research. Even in death, she continues to teach and to heal through the education of future medical professionals.
As she joins her parents and siblings in their heavenly home, may the Lord, whom she served so faithfully, welcome her into eternal peace and joy.
Thank you, Sister Bridget. In the loving presence of our Creator, intercede for us, your sisters here on earth.
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