A legend much feared by her students but much loved by all

Her positive attitude and encouragement was greatly treasured and deeply appreciated. She touched so many lives

Reverend Sr. Thomas Aquinas was called to her eternal rest on the night of September 17 after battling a cancer diagnosed in May 2022. She refused medication and told me, “this is my preparation to meet my creator.”  
Christine De Cruz was born on May 14, 1943 to Kingsley and Abigail De Cruz, the fifth of seven siblings. She attended St Anthony’s Girls School, Mutwal, and later graduated from the University of Peradeniya. She lost her father at the age of eight and at age 16 had a calling to join religious life.  

Her brother Audley told me that her mother had hopes that she would further her education and later contribute to the family coffers; but she had only one thing on her mind: to dedicate her life to Jesus.  

She joined the novitiate soon after her 17th birthday, a very new experience for her from her home life, leading a strict and very disciplined way of life.   

She was instructed, by the Irish nuns of the time on the vows she would be taking. Sr Mary Euphrasia was very gentle with her, while her formatter, Sr Nora, was sterner. Sr. Thomas said “Looking back at her novitiate she felt it was that training that infused the values for her religious life and enabled her to sustain her vows.”   

She attended Peradeniya University two years after joining the novitiate and taking temporary vows, and lived on the campus with other students of both sexes. She remembered a party the undergrads had organized to test her religious fervor. They had concluded thereafter that, “We have tested her as much as possible. This Sister will die a nun.” She was relieved that her batch-mates understood she treasured the religious life she would lead.  
Sr. Thomas’s spiritual director was the late Father Kuriakose. They had a very special bond.   

She was my teacher at St Bridget’s for the ‘O’ Levels. She taught us English, literature and religious knowledge. Her teaching was so thorough that I was awarded distinctions for all these subjects without any tuition whatever. Sr. Tommy then became the Principal. She was a very strict disciplinarian and always spoke to us on being respectful, courteous and appreciating whatever little someone has done for you in life.   

“Never forget them,” she would say. We were all very scared even of her shadow which would fall just when we were up to some prank or doing something we should not be doing! Our punishment was to either clean the school and if we were three times punished, join the next class that was on retreat during the weekend. Some of us are very religious thanks to the many retreats we had to join almost every weekend!   

The beautiful, smart but stern Principal attracted all the boys’ schools, whose trucks used to invade St. Bridget’s during the big matches. She would get mad at us when we told her “they came to see you, not us!”   

She was the epitome of honesty and integrity. Once when punished and standing in her office, we saw a partly unwrapped gift on her table. Curiosity made us open it and we found a beautiful wrist watch. On her return to the office she called the parent who had left it there, and requested her to immediately take it away and instead, if she wished, to give a gift or donation to the school. No gifts for her personally.   

She commanded respect from both students and teachers. She had this special glare which used to send the shivers down our spines!   

I was head girl in 1977 during her tenure as principal. It also happened to be the 75th jubilee of St Bridget’s. In those days the head girl was voted in by all the students. I have been punished by her though I was head girl. The punishment was, as the school cleaning staff was ill, she said to me “close the hall doors and then clean it with the other prefects who are punished like you.”   

This is how strict she was. I used to avoid her in my school days as I was terrified of her. A few years after I got married, my husband, Shamil, and I were on a trip to Mumbai and she was on the same flight carrying her typewriter and handbag. Shamil helped her carry the heavy typewriter and we dropped off Sr. Thomas and the nun who came to meet her late night flight at their convent. It was after this that I reconnected with her and got very close to her.   

My mother Lilamani had known her as a young girl and she used to come home and spend time with my children, our friends and family. She would give us all life talks on values, anger management etc, as she was a qualified psychologist. This is what she did until her last days, spending time counseling children which was her forte. She especially loved the naughty kids and was very close to my three children, Shamarli, Shavesh and Shahen and loved them dearly.  

I was saddened and shocked to hear that she fell ill at the end of April and visited her daily at the General Hospital. They discovered her cancer in May and since then her condition deteriorated rapidly.   

So many of her pupils who loved her took care of her. Past students who were doctors volunteered to look after her. She was truly blessed and loved by all. My friend Devinka referred to her as “ A legend, much feared by her students, but much loved by all.”  

Her positive attitude and encouragement was greatly treasured and deeply appreciated. She touched so many lives. Sitting by her bedside those last few weeks at the infirmary, so many came to thank her for the help and advice she had given them and were in tears as they said their goodbyes. The Sisters at the infirmary loved her and she told me how Sr. Ann Marie looked after her with so much care.   

She had the finest funeral I have ever attended on September 19 when the Queen too was laid to rest. Shamistra, my friend who watched it online said “Tommy was our Queen”!  

Goodbye Sr. Tommy, we will surely miss you. May your soul Rest In Peace.  

Sharmini Mendis