“I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come, nor power, nor height, nor death, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Our Lord.”Rom 8: 38-39.
These words of St.Paul are true in the life of Sr.Audrey who found in Christ her true treasure and fulfilment.Rev.Sr. Audrey was born on 8th April 1938, to her parents Mr. Abraham and Mrs. Rosammaat Ayyarkunnem, Kotayyam, Kerala. She was the 10th child among her six brothers and four sisters. She was nurtured in the pious and loving family for 18 years. Her elder sister Agnes had already joined the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross. Sister Audrey decided to follow the life of the crucified Lord and joined the Congregation in the year 1956.

During her noviciate she was sick and was isolated from her companions due to which she suffered much. But, God who called her was faithful to her the next 60 years. This beloved child became an instrument in God’s hand and followed Christ till her last breath in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod.

Sr.Audrey made her first profession in 1958 and was appointed in the office at Holy Cross School, Tuticorin, where she also learned typing and Hindi. Sister did Home Science studies in Mumbai from 1964 to 1966 and later served as warden and instructor at Home Science Academy, Tuticorin from 1967 to 1972. In the same capacity she served at Mambalasalai from 1972 to 1976 and in 1977 she was in Mannakanad, Needle work School. Sister also extended her service at NBCLC Bangalore from 1977 to 1980.

In 1980 she was a pioneer at Vianney Home, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh and assisted the physically challenged children for six years. She pursued scripture studies and attended courses on spiritual direction for one year and was then transferred to Bapatla as SIC and also as Junior mistress for Andhra Region. In the years 1989 and 1995 she pioneered the communities at Kambhampadu and Gudivada respectively. She was elected as the first Delegation Superior in 1996 but continued as superior and junior mistress at Secunderabad, BHEL and Guntur in the following years. In 2001 after completing 14 long years as junior mistress she was asked to go to Vepur, Tamil Nadu. At the age of 64, her burning zeal for the mission urged her to opt for East African mission where, she braved all odds to be a successful missionary for 6 years. She has mentioned in her personal history,“I always thought of being with Christ in His Mission and love His people. Thank God! He fulfilled my childhood dream to become a missionary”. She served the people in Kihonda, Morogoro and returned to India in 2008. After a short period at Holy Cross Provincialate, Trichy, she came back to Andhra in 2009 to be in Charge of the Community in Gudivada. She was later transferred to  ecunderabad as SIC and in 2014 to Kollipara Community as SIC.

In 2016, When she was not able to take leadership roles, she surrendered to God’s will and accepted to be in prayer and rest at Holy Cross Convent, Kambhampadu. Sr. Audrey took ill on 21st January 2019 when she visited her nephew in New Delhi after the celebration of her Diamond Jubilee. Diagnosed with brain tumour and hospitalised in Delhi and Guntur for a few weeks she was shifted to Provincialate, Tenali. Soon she had a stroke and was paralyzed partially. She lost her capacity to speak and crying was her only language of communication. She was confined to bed the last two months. She united herself with the Crucified Lord in her pain and suffering. She breathed her last at 4.20 am on 17th May 2019 in the presence of our sisters.Dear Sr. Audrey, you had strong faith and deep trust in the Lord. You were a woman of prayer and had profound union with the Lord.

You were humane, loving, forgiving, sensitive, generous, open-minded and an eminent leader. You were firm but gentle to the young, concerned and counselled those in responsibilities and respectful to the aged. You were a mother when we were weak, a friend when we were in need, a leader when we were blind, a guide when we were troubled.You dared to begin anything new, meet any new person or step into the unknown.Sister dear, you endured graciously the physical and mental sufferings and edified us by living authentically the kenotic love.

Sr. Audrey, you always respected and loved the sisters in the province of Tenali. We value greatly your contribution to the Province. We will miss your encouragement, your appreciation and your applause at every development and growth of the Province. Your deep faith in God accompanied you till your last breath and will accompany you even after death. You have always said, “The Unconditional love of Christ gives me courage to forgive others and to accept them in His love. Our Charism and Mother Claudine’s life strengthen me in my consecrated life. His Cross is my life and goal”. Our dear sister Audrey, Our hearts sink in sorrow to say good bye to you because just in the recent past we celebrated your diamond jubilee and we blessed you to reach the platinum jubilee. We wished you many more travels that you enjoy.

Dear and beloved Sr. Audrey we are consoled that you will be with Him in paradise to intercede for us. We remain grateful to you for all that you were to each one of us, in the Province and in the Congregation. A warm Adieu sister dear! Sisters of Tenali Community 18.05.2019