“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? …… I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things to come, nor
powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” [Romans 8:35-38] The life of Sr.Vijaya Rani Mallavarapu was plucked away from the garden of the Sisters of the Cross, to be united with the Risen Lord. Her death has brought void in the hearts of many but we celebrate the life that she enjoyed here on earth and thank the Lord for His constant companionship in her life.

Sr.Vijaya Rani Mallavarapu was born on 29th May 1969 in a traditional, pious and God-fearing catholic family to (late) Mr. Lourdaiah Mallavarapu and Showrilu Mallavarapu at Kanaparthi Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. She is the second among four children. She did her schooling at St.Joseph’s High School, Guntur, run by JMJ sisters. It is there that the seed of God’s love was sown in her heart. She nurtured it and responded to God’s call by joining the Sisters of the Cross,
Trichy Province, in June 1988 and made her 1st profession on 28th May 1991. She continued to stay in Tamil Nadu for six more months. From 1992 to 1997 she served in Bapatla, Gudivada and Kambhampadu –Andhra Pradesh. During this period, she also completed Telugu Pandit course. Before her final commitment, at her request, she was sent to Cantonment to take care of the senior sisters. Later she served as candidate mistress and also completed B.Ed
in Guntur. After two years of service at Kambhampadu from 2001 to 2003, she did a one-year theological course at Jeevan Jyothi Institute, Hyderabad. From 2004 to 2010 she took up the animation of two communities at Kambhampadu and Vijayawada and was also in charge of the school in Kambhampadu. She was appointed junior mistress in 2007. In 2010 she came to Nandhirajuthota as animator of the community until 2014 and in 2015 she was appointed the headmistress of the same institution. She served the Andhra delegation as a Councillor for two terms.

Sr.Vijaya Rani was self-confident, an  eminent leader and an able administrator. She was an optimistic person, straight forward in expressing her feelings, views and opinions. She had taste for art and love for nature. Her delicate fingers would turn anything into a piece of art like brooches, flower garlands, painting, vase arrangements etc. As a multi-talented person, she also generously helped in the kitchen to prepare varieties of pickles and other items. Her poetic
Telugu with a blend of her powerful voice made of her a good speaker.

Sr.Vijaya Rani was a humane person. She had special love for the differently abled and orphans. She washed them, combed their hair and took care of them like a mother. A true mother cares, guides, corrects and encourages. Sr.Viji was one of the best examples for it. She always gave a listening ear to the teachers, parents and students. She was a mentor to many young sisters. She was strict to herself and others in personal formation and mission.
Suffering is an inevitable human  experience especially for the Sisters of the Cross. It was true in the life of Sr. Vijaya Rani. She was diagnosed with partial renal failure in 2016 but soon the function of the kidneys deteriorated. The treatment in CMC, Vellore, Tamil Nadu gave her some relief. For the last three years, she undertook dialysis. Every day her life was filled with pain and difficulties. Her enduring spirit and will power kept her fighting until the end. As an authentic sister of the Cross, she carried the Cross day and night through her acute pain, valiantly.
On 22nd February 2021, Sr Viji received the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. On Good Friday she requested to make confession. As the days passed, she felt that her suffering would come to an end on Easter Sunday, which confirms that God had revealed His plan for her. On 4th April 2021, when the whole world celebrated the great festival of hope and new life, our beloved Sr. Viji quietly committed herself into the hands of the Lord to begin a new life in the presence
of the Risen Christ. She breathed her last at 4.30 pm in the company of the community members and her niece. A few hours before her death she asked for pardon from the animator of the community and expressed that “[she] forgave everyone wholeheartedly”.

Dear Sr. Viji You had the good fight; you have finished the race and you have remained faithful. Every one of us has witnessed this in your life. We want to thank you today for your selfless service rendered to the humanity by your life as a sister of the Cross. We relished your love, friendship and sisterly concern. This fond memory will remain with us. Goodbye is not forever and is not the end, it simply means we will miss you until we meet again.

Farwell to you our beloved Sr.Vijaya Rani!

Your loving sisters
Province of Tenali