Sister Mary Loreta Dykes neé Hedwige Floribon Dykes

Hedwige Floribon Dykes was born on 15 July 1936 to Mrs Ira Dkhar and Mr. Konison Kharwanlang in Tynrong village Cherrapunjee (Sohra), Meghalaya. She had two elder brothers and two elder sisters, she was the youngest in the family. Soon after she was born her mother died and the father took care of the children as their mother. With the help of the Catechist and the Don Bosco Brothers who were touring
villages in those days, the two brothers were brought to Don Bosco, Shillong to learn some trades while Floribon was brought to St. John Bosco’s Convent, Cherrapunjee(Sohra). With the permission of their father and other family members all three of them were baptised in the Catholic Church while they were in school.Their father and their two sisters remained in the Presbyterian Church in the village.

Floribon completed her Matriculation in 1955 after which she stayed on in the Convent to assist the Sisters in the School. While she was teaching in the school for two years she felt the call of God and had a strong desire to become an RNDM Sister. She told her father and her elder sisters about it and they did not give her the permission to go ahead.However, her determination did not keep her back. With great eagerness and sincerity she expressed her desire to the Sisters who responded to her and brought her to St. Joseph’s Shillong at the end of 1957. She first rndm past pupil from Sohra to follow the religious life with the RNDMs in those days.

On 4 January 1958 early in the morning she left St. Joseph’s Convent Shillong with Mother Languida Dassier Kharkongor, then Provincial, and travelled to Chitagong, Bangladesh. On 5 January 1958 she was received as a Postulant along with other companions in Chitagong, Bangladesh. She completed her two years novitiate and made first profession on 5 January 1961. Sister remained in Bangladesh for further formation and other trainings until 1966 when she and the rest of her Indian companions had to leave Bangladesh due to the political situation at the time.

In 1966 she was missioned to St. Mary’s Shillong to take care of the orphans. In subsequent years she completed her graduate degree and was trained as a teacher. The Congregation also gave her opportunities for other studies in Sacred Sciences and Spirituality.

Sr. Mary Loreta Dykes was a very efficient and committed religious and educationist. She worked as a teacher and was assigned as Headmistress and Superior in nearly all the houses of the North East Province. She served in St. Mary’s Shillong, St. John Bosco’s Sohra, St. Anges Haflong, St. Paul’s Marbisu, St. Anthony’s Pynursla, St. Peter’s Laitlyngkot, St. Michael’s Umsning and Euphrasie Barbier English School Tluh.

Sister Mary Loreta Dykes spent quality time in the flower gardens wherever she was. She had the passion of collecting special indoor plants and took great care of them. Every morning she would tend the plants and talk to them as if they understood her language. She also loved pet dogs and cats and in her last days she had a companion dog who accompanied her very closely so much so that even in her last journey on
earth she had kept a packet of biscuits for her dog. The dog also was very loyal to her and stayed on with her until her final journey.
Sister was engaged in active education ministry until 1911. It was edifying to see her toiling untiringly and with joyful enthusiasm for the growth of the students and teachers wherever she was missioned. She dedicated her best years in being part of pioneering works in the village schools. With a spirit of obedience and surrendering all, she retired from all the active ministries and joined St. Joseph’s Convent,
Jaïaw in August 2012.

In 2013 she was diagnosed with cancer. She bravely and successfully went through the medical care and operation under the care of Dr (Mrs) Judita Syiemlieh. She recovered well and carried on and enjoyed normal health until two years ago when she began to slow down physically. In December 2022 Sister’s health was deteriorating faster and she developed partial dementia, but she would never complain. She continued to move around the house quietly and slowly. In February Sister struggled to move about and she was feeling very uncomfortable to remain in the room. In spite of her enduring spirit, she could not fight back and on 13 February she was anointed. On 14 February morning Sister showed signs of pain and a family doctor was called upon to check on her. It was then that it was advised that she needed intensive care, so she was taken to Roberts Hospital nearby. While in the hospital the family members and the Sisters from St. Joseph’s Community accompanied Sister day and night to see that she had the comfort and peace at this time of her suffering. The doctors and nurses were also at her service all along and the Sisters of St. Mary’s Community and other nearby communities came to assist Sister and visited her whenever possible.

On 8 March 2023 in consultation with the doctors, Sister was brought back home to St. Joseph’s and was given intensive care in the Convent.
On 11 March 2023 at around 7 Pm Sister was resigned and was at rest. She breathed her last breath at around 7.10 Pm in the presence of the sisters who were around her. Her mortal remains was kept in the Chapel until her burial day on 13 March 2023 where many of her beloved family members, Sisters, past pupils, teachers and friends visited and bid farewell to her.

The Requiem Mass was con-celebrated by the Parish Priest with many priests at 5 Pm on 12.3.2023 in the presence of many Sisters, faithful and family members. The funeral Mass was con-celebrated by Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh, the Archbishop of Shillong Diocese. Many people of all walks of life attended the funeral service in the Chapel and at the Cemetery. It was a journey of faith that Sister Mary Loreta undertook with love and trust in her beloved Lord.

Eternal rest grant unto her o Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen