Appreciation - Sister June Sadler

Sr Doreen Cuschieri writes:

Sr Sadler is greatly missed by the sisters in her community, clergy and parishioners of St Mary's Catholic church, all the Sisters of the Dorothean Province, ex pupils, both in Malta and in Switzerland, and students in residence in London.

Sr Sadler was transferred to Malta from our finishing school in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1964. She was a teacher of elocution and music in the Junior School at Mdina and Mistress of the boarding school until 1975.

None of us would ever question the sister's patience and good nature! Her smile captivated everyone's attention and immediately one would feel welcome and accepted in her presence. Time and time again she would make sure that no student, away from her family, was lacking anything. While I was Dormitory Mistress of the Preps Division, I remember her coming to the dormitory in the evening to bid the girls good night and make sure that every girl was snug in bed with enough blankets and ready for a restful night. During the weekend she also made it her prerogative to give each Division enough time for relaxation, play, study and letter writing to their families outside Malta.

Even though she had no specific hours of supervision with the boarders, she spent long hours listening to anything any girl wished to share with her.

Being a good listener, most students sought comfort in her, especially when home sick. Her simple and child-like nature kept her very young and jovial in spirit. Her friendliness and readiness to help made her very popular among students and sisters alike. Besides caring for the students, she would also run a film or two over the weekend for the sisters.

Being quite a numerous group of young sisters at St Dorothy's, Mdina, in the early 1970s, we needed to use up our energy and, here again Sr Sadler would offer to teach us hymns and songs for special feast days or other occasions, as well as plays, dances and performances with varied programmes.

She emanated an aura of happiness, which was contagious in our community that housed young sisters and aspirants training to join our congregation.

Sr Sadler was not an imposing person, nor was she strict in any way, however when duty called she was adamant that one and all toed the line and never allowed anyone to take advantage of her kindness and happy disposition.

When transferred to the United Kingdom in 1975, Sr Sadler spent most of her time helping out in parish work, taking Holy Communion to the sick and housebound in their homes, to residential homes for the elderly and hospitals while also serving as Superior in Frognal, Hampstead and at Redhill, Surrey.

During these last few years she had been unwell and confined to a wheelchair. Her docile and good spirit never failed her. She showed gratitude to any sister who was of service to her. Notwithstanding her inability to communicate verbally she was very eloquent with her exemplary behaviour. Her face lit up each time any sister prayed with her or kept her company while listening to classical music or quizzes and documentaries on television. She has been a living witness of God's great love for us all.

After an illness which she bore with great patience and serenity, Sr Sadler left this world to join her Beloved Lord and Father comforted by the rights of Holy Mother Church.