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CV NEWS FEED // Malaysia is mourning the recent death of Sister Enda Ryan, a Franciscan nun and missionary who spent years dedicated to providing education for women in Malaysia.
AsiaNews reported that Ryan, who was originally from Ireland but became a Malaysian citizen in 1966, passed away on April 7 at the age of 95.
Ryan joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1947 and was sent to Malaysia in 1954 to establish schools for girls’ education. She founded the Assunta primary and secondary schools soon after, and also established the Ave Maria Welfare clinic, which later became Assunta Hospital.
During her life, Ryan received numerous awards for her work in education, including an honorary doctorate of humanities from Taylor’s University in Malaysia in 2022.
AsiaNews reported that Ryan was nicknamed “the singing nun” due to her love for singing, and added that her love and joy touched the lives of several of her students.
“The maternal love that shone through her always touched everyone. Her grit, her enthusiasm and her zeal for life inspired us to live our lives to the fullest,” one former student wrote, according to AsiaNews. “All of us, her students, owe this unique, great icon immeasurable gratitude for having trained us to be good and responsible citizens of this nation.”
Another former student, Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, told local media Free Malaysia Today that “no one ever felt out of place” around Ryan.
“She has definitely shaped me into who I am today, building my confidence and self-esteem in public speaking and developing my interest in charity work,” she added, according to AsiaNews. “Each student was able to practice their beliefs in a safe environment. This is how a school should be, where ethics, kindness and respect are paramount.”
