Read a Christian tribute to Reverend Sister Stella Maris Douglas, a woman of God whose life of selfless service, compassion, and spiritual depth impacted everyone around her. Her legacy of love and faith will continue to inspire generations.
Dear Rev. Sister Stella Maris,
How do we say goodbye to someone whose entire life was an embodiment of love and sacrifice? How do we honor the woman who gave of herself without hesitation, without counting the cost, whose life was a living prayer, a sermon, a testament to Christ’s love for humanity? How do we put into words the magnitude of your devotion to God and to us?
It is impossible to capture the essence of your life in mere words, for your life preached the gospel in a way that was louder than any sermon ever could. You didn’t just live for yourself; you lived for others—for the abandoned, the forgotten, the marginalized, the sick, and the suffering. You embodied Christ's love in everything you did, and now, Heaven has welcomed you home, where you can rest in the eternal peace you so richly deserve.
You were not just a nun. You were a mother to the motherless, a sister to the forgotten, a light in dark places, and a voice of heaven in a noisy, chaotic world. You were grace in human form. You were love in motion. You were the soft whisper of God’s kindness and compassion that made our burdens lighter. And now, Heaven has received back its echo, but oh, how much you have left behind here on earth.
You Gave Until There Was Nothing Left to Give
Sister Stella, your life was a beautiful example of selflessness. You didn’t just give your time—you gave your very life. You gave your strength, your energy, your hands to heal, your voice to comfort, and your heart to carry the pain of others. There was no "inconvenient hour" for you, no task too small or too dirty, no person too unworthy of your love and care. You poured yourself out daily, never expecting anything in return. Your ministry wasn’t about recognition—it was about reaching the hearts of those who needed Christ’s love the most.
You didn’t seek fame, yet your legacy is written in the lives of countless people whose lives you touched. You didn’t chase after titles, but you carried the burdens of the broken-hearted with the gentleness and humility that comes only from a heart aligned with God’s. You didn’t live for applause, but your absence now is deafening because your presence brought peace, joy, and hope to every room you entered.
You once said, “If I still feel it’s hard, then I haven’t loved like Christ yet.” Oh, how you lived this out! You loved with a love that had no boundaries, no conditions. You loved like Jesus, and that is the greatest tribute we could ever give to your life: You loved like Christ.
A Heart That Carried the Wounds of Others
I can still see you walking into a hospital room, where the air was thick with fear and pain. And suddenly, the atmosphere would shift. Not because the diagnosis had changed, but because your presence carried hope. You had the unique ability to sit with the dying, to whisper words of peace and grace that made them smile, made them feel seen and loved. You fed the hungry, not just with food, but with dignity. You wiped tears from the eyes of orphans, and in doing so, you gave them a family.
You were not just a caregiver, but a healer—a healer of souls. Your love transcended the physical act of service; it was a ministry of presence. You touched lives at Saint Peter the Rock, Lagos West, where your hands built and restored broken hearts. Your work there mirrored that of another woman of God, Mary Slessor, whose life was spent saving abandoned children. Like Mary, you took in the forgotten, those whom society had cast aside, and you loved them as if they were your own. You saved so many—children abandoned by their families, left with no hope, no future—and you didn’t just rescue them; you raised them. You taught them the value of life, the value of faith, the power of love. You nurtured their spirits, and you trained them to carry on the work that you so faithfully began.
Your Kingdom work at Saint Peter’s was beyond anything we could have ever expected. You preached the gospel with your life—through your actions, through your compassion, through your commitment to God’s will. Your every day was a sermon, and your life was the living word. You didn’t need to speak much; your actions spoke volumes.
Your Vows Were Not Just Spoken—They Were Lived
Your vows, dear Sister, were not just words spoken on an altar—they were lived out every single day. You consecrated yourself to the Lord, not just in a ceremony, but in a life of sacrificial service. Your life was marked by simplicity, by deep love, by joy-filled service, and by constant prayer. In a world that chases after accolades and material success, you chased after souls. You didn’t search for recognition; you searched for God’s will.
You didn’t just endure suffering—you offered it up as worship. Even as your health declined and your body grew weak, your spirit remained steadfast. Your joy remained unshaken, and your faith remained unwavering. You taught us the true meaning of suffering in Christ—how even in pain, we can bring glory to God. You once said, “Don’t pray for my healing alone—pray that even my suffering will bring someone closer to God.” What a profound and selfless prayer that was.
You’ve Fought the Good Fight, Sister
And now, the mission that God entrusted to you is complete. Your lamp never went out—it simply passed on to the next generation. You’ve entered into the rest of the faithful, where you join the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before you. Yes, we weep because we miss you—but we also worship because you didn’t just live well—you ended well.
You fought the good fight, you finished the race, and you kept the faith. Your work here on earth was not in vain. You laid up treasures in Heaven, and the reward you now receive is the eternal joy of being in the presence of the One who called you, who sustained you, and who will never let you go.
Sleep On, Our Beloved Sister in Christ
Reverend Sister Stella Maris, sleep on, God’s gentle dove. Sleep on, faithful warrior of intercession. Sleep on, mother of mercy. Sleep on, silent servant whose reward is waiting at the Master's feet.
The seeds you sowed in tears will bloom for generations. The prayers you prayed in secret will echo in Heaven forever. The love you gave freely will be remembered eternally. You taught us how to love without condition. You taught us how to serve with joy. You taught us how to pray without ceasing. You even taught us how to die well, knowing that our lives here are but a temporary assignment, and that our true home awaits.
Until We Meet Again…
One day, we will see you again, clutched in Christ’s embrace, clothed in white, shining like the morning star. You’ll be standing beside the saints, smiling that same gentle smile, radiating peace and joy.
But until then, we promise to live as you taught us: to love like Christ, serve like Mary, pray like Hannah, and endure like Paul. You have shown us what it means to live a life poured out for others, to live with purpose, and to serve with humility.
Sleep on, dear Sister. You have finished your course. The crown of life awaits you, and we, your family here, will continue the race you started. We are eternally grateful for your love, your prayers, your service, and your example.
With eternal gratitude and heavenly hope,
—[Cherry Damaris Douglas]
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