Sister Maria Amabile 

Sister Maria Amabile                          ND 5812                              PDF Download

(formerly Sister Maria Valdemira)

Amabile BORTOLINI

Holy Cross Province, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil

Date and Place of Birth:            March 19, 1943       Lageado, RS
Date and Place of Profession:  February 11, 1965   Passo Fundo, RS
Date and Place of Death:          April 28, 2022         Não Me Toque, RS
Date and Place of Burial:          April 29, 2022         Sta Cruz Cemetery, Passo Fundo, Brazil

Amabile Bortolini was the 6th child of 8 siblings, five of whom are deceased. Her parents João Bortolini and Maria Vincenzi were farmers. She celebrated her First Communion in the Capela Santo Antônio, Pouso Novo, RS, at the age of 10.

Feeling called to Religious Life, at the age of 20, Amabile entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Notre Dame and received the name Sister Maria Valdemira. At the celebration of her Silver Jubilee, when renewing her religious commitment, Sister M. Amabile chose the passage from Lk 9:23 as a key phrase for her journey: “Take up your cross each day and follow me”, a motto that she embraced and lived faithfully every day.

Sister M. Amabile´s ministries included coordinating and working in the kitchen, doing cleaning, laundry, taking care of the vegetable and flower gardens, services she did in several of our Notre Dame schools and hospitals, as well as in our religious communities. Sister provided special care of health and well-being for all those who she came in contact with. She had a watchful eye, always ready to serve and help where needed. Sister was also engaged in the pastoral care of the elderly, participated in the Saint Julie Group and in family praying groups.

Sister Maria Amabile highly regarded her prayer life, appreciated being in community, was a cheerful person, had a participatory approach, was always in a good mood and sensitive to the needs of the sisters. Sister was a woman of a kind and generous heart. Sister loved to prepare special dishes and make little surprises for the sisters in her community, especially when she realized that they were tired from too much work.

In 2020, with poor health and mobility conditions, Sister was transferred to Casa Betânia for health treatment. On April 11, Sister M. Amabile suffered a stroke, which left her in a serious condition that required intensive care. Admitted to the hospital, she had periods of improvement followed by periods of worsening, while her strength slowly waned. During the days in the hospital, she received the comfort of the sacraments and the permanent assistance of the sisters. On April 28, in the late afternoon, Sister Maria Amabile went back to God, whom she had served through her service to our brothers and sisters.

Sister M. Amabile now rests in God and receives the reward for her life given in simplicity, a life that rejoices with little for the benefit of many.

May God grant her peace and eternal rest.