Sr Agnes Valdez, SJC died at Lourdes House, Arouca on Sunday, February 6. Her Funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday, February 11 at the St Joseph 's Convent chapel, Port of Spain , following which she was interred at the Lapeyrouse Cemetery

It was very interesting for me to read the newspaper caption, written in bold letters, of Sr Agnes's account of herself as a Sister of St Joseph of Cluny. It read: “I had sworn I would never be a nun”. As one read on, she stated that not only did she not want to be a nun she had also sworn not to be a teacher!

Something great and perhaps miraculous happened, as Sr Agnes became an excellent nun and teacher. Why did this happen? Why did she become the devoted, loving and selfless nun and excellent teacher that she was?

Her mind was opened to the will of God. The higher things in life, the higher gifts and the promoting of these gifts became somehow a priority for Sr Agnes and like Mary she gave her fiat . Her strong yes to the God who made her.

Her own words describing her transformation are: “But when the Lord calls, no matter how you feel you just have to say yes.” Her young mind was set on the higher gifts. She chose the way of love, the best way.

St Paul 's advice in 1 Corinthians: 13 sum up very beautifully the force behind Sr Agnes's response:

Set your minds on the higher gifts…and the best way of all is love, for love is always patient and kind, is never jealous, is not boastful or conceited, is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances.

Those who knew Sr Agnes have all attested to her honesty, integrity, her love of people, her love of fun, her sense of humour, her interest in sports, her love of the sea, of dancing and her ability to work closely and well with others.

Speaking to Majorie Madine, one of sister's close friends and co-workers, she spoke of sister as one who respected people who loved the poor and strove hard to maintain peace and joy, love and compassion among her staff the children she taught and directed, their parents and all those she encountered on her journey through life.

Sr Agnes tells the story of how her love for sports, cricket, that time, nearly cost her, her vocation. She was reluctant to keep an appointment made for her by one Fr English, to see the Provincial about entering the Convent. She went to the match but on second thought she left early to keep the appointment.

Rita Theresa Valdez was the last child of seven children of Louis and Louise Valdez née Moutet – five boys and two girls. Sr Agnes was not only the baby, the last child, but was five years younger than the sibling before her.

She spoke of her parents as wonderful and they must have been, for out of their seven children three entered religion. Frs Pedro and Toba were both Holy Ghost Fathers and Sr Agnes entered the Cluny convent. She entered on Carnival Tuesday 1937. (Is it not significant that she left this world on Carnival Sunday night? The Trinis must have been waiting her arrival for a big splash in heaven).

However, owing to ill health, sister left the novitiate after two years, but re-entered in 1940 and was professed that same year on August 14 and was given the name Sr Agnes of Jesus Mary.

Sr Agnes studied a variety of subjects, which prepared her for her long career in teaching. Art, music, typewriting, handwork, French and Spanish enhanced her performance as a teacher. She could put her hands to so much more than if only equipped with the bare academic subjects.

She was one of the pioneers of our mission in St Vincent and taught for six years in the primary school there. She was very much loved and respected by the people of Kingstown and is remembered up to this day for her presence and contribution to education in that island.

Sr Agnes taught in San Fernando for a short time, and Tobago for six years and at her beloved Nelson Street Girls' for 15 years. Some of her life long friendships were formed in this school. Sr Ruth Montrichard, and as mentioned already, Marjorie Madine are among some of sister's powerful friends.

Sr Agnes was very happy to celebrate her Golden Jubilee and recalled her brother Berto's sacrifice in giving up his job in Barbados and returning to Trinidad to look after their mother Louise. It was only because of his sacrifice that she could have answered the Lord's call.

Speaking of Sr Agnes on her Golden Jubilee, Sr Francis Xavier Urich (RIP) then Provincial summed up her life most succinctly and beautifully thus:

“Sr Agnes has had an apostolate of suffering, consummating a life of devoted giving and service. Thousands of children remember Sr Agnes with love and gratitude, many parents revere her.”

Sr Agnes followed in the footsteps of her mother, who was crippled with arthritis. Her health failing, she took early retirement in September 1973 but not to rest as one may have thought.

She got a new lease of life and with that new employment at the St Vincent de Paul Employment Bureau, the office of Belmont presbytery and in Maraval, where she was last active, she instructed prospective converts and did a measure of counselling to those needing this service.

er main duty after these activities was to pray and suffer for the continued conversion and redemption of all of us, her brothers and sisters.

Sr Agnes for quite some time seemed unaware of what was happening around her or who were visiting her, but the operative word is “seemed”.

She generally kept her eyes closed but there were privileged persons who got recognition when she heard their voice or when some words closely connected to her life were uttered, for example when reminded of our many trips to Balandra, when she was no longer able to go to our Cumana beach, she opened her eyes as if to affirm you. The questions always were: How much is she able to absorb? How conscious is she?

Conscious or not Sr Agnes's life served as a great inspiration for all of us who were associated with her and also to many people who visited her.

She seemed so much at peace, so ready to endure and so content with her state of life that she remained a witness to that great love that called her to religious life. She died after a very short warning but she was blessed with the ultimate blessing of the Sacrament of the Sick – her sacred food for the great and final journey to eternity.

She left us quietly and gracefully, marching in dignity to the tune of her life to the God, who made her. The God who has promised the unity of life and love in bliss that knows no ending.

May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen