Sister Nirmala

Sister Nirmala Joshi, MC - the successor of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta - died yesterday as a result of kidney failure and other complications.  Despite being counselled to undergo dialysis, Sister Nirmala chose instead to deny treatment and to spend her final hours in the company of her Sisters.

She was released from hospital on Saturday (June 20), after which time her health declined rapidly.  She died yesterday, shortly after midnight Calcutta time (EST+8.5).

Born in 1934, Sister Nirmala converted to Catholicism and shortly after joined the Missionaries of Charity.

She went to Panama and became one of the first Missionaries of Charity to head a mission. In 1976, Sister Nirmala started and led the contemplative branch of the Missionaries of Charity until her election as Mother Teresa’s successor in March 1997.

She served as Superior General of the congregation until March 25, 2009.  In April 2009, Sister Mary Prema Pierick, MC was elected to succeed Sister Nirmala as Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, a position she still holds today. Prior to her departure as head of the Missionaries of Charity, Sister Nirmala was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the Indian government’s second highest civilian award for service to the nation.

Sister Nirmala's funeral was celebrated in Calcutta this afternoon beginning at 4:00pm local time.