It is with tremendous grief that the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill share of the tragic passing of Sr. Violet Sampour, OP, a member of our Community in Pakistan. Sister Violet was severely injured in a motor vehicle accident on Wednesday, July 12 in the city of Karachi, Pakistan and passed away shortly thereafter on July 14, 2017. The entire Sparkill community is in shock as we deal with the loss of this incredible, vibrant woman.
Sister Violet entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in April 1986 and professed her final vows on April 22, 1994. She served as a nurse and midwife in Bahawalpur, Pakistan for the majority of her ministry. Sister Violet was a cherished leader within Sparkill’s Pakistani Community. Her many ministries are detailed in her obituary here.
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Sister Violet Sampour, OP, of the Dominican Sisters, Sparkill, New York, died from injuries sustained from a motor vehicle accident in Karachi, Pakistan on July 14, 2017. At the time of her death, Sister Violet was living in Multan.
Born in Francisabad, Pakistan, Violet entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pakistan on April 13, 1986. She professed her first vows on February 3, 1989 and her final vows on April 22, 1994.
For many years Sister Violet served as a nurse and midwife in Bahawalpur, Pakistan working at St. Dominic’s Clinic as well as serving the Hindu Tribes in the area. From 1997 until 2013, Sister Violet was part of the Formation Team working with young women interested in religious life. During this time, she also served as Chairperson of the Justice and Peace Commission, Multan. Sister Violet served as the Regional Representative for the Pakistan Community from 2007-2013 and in 2013 she became the Formation Director and served in this capacity until her death.
Sister Violet Sampour was faithful to the God she loved and to the life she chose as a Dominican Sister more than thirty years ago. We will remember her as a joyful, valiant, strong, patient, and loving woman. May the Lord shine His light upon her and give her eternal rest in the kingdom of heaven.
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Sister Mary Murray, President of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, shared of Sr. Violet as being a gentle, quiet woman who was filled with a deep sense of prayer and great vision for the Community’s growth in Pakistan. “I had the privilege of being with Sr. Violet on several occasions. I find it hard to describe in words the depth of love she communicated to all of us and to those she served in Pakistan. She was well loved and respected by so many people. Her deep love of God inspired her to lead our young Sisters in discerning their vocations as women religious. Her tragic death is a profound loss for our whole congregation. We place our trust in God who will guide us to carry on her legacy of love and service to others.”
Sister Margaret Rose Moran, one of the first eight Sparkill Dominicans who in 1958 answered the Congregation’s call to establish a mission in Pakistan, came to know Sr. Violet during her 33 years of living with the Pakistani Community. She shared:
“Sister Violet was an exemplary person and Sister. She was always seeking to deepen her spirituality, was very committed to justice issues and working with the poor, and was devoted to strengthening our Community. From her early days as a young Sister, I remember how she stood out as a quiet leader. She was what we called a “baji,” or an older sister: wise, well-respected, and what she said had impact.
As a midwife she worked with both Muslims and Christians and people sought her out because they felt her holiness. She had a special presence with them—something more than just delivering their babies. She was committed to the responsibility of sharing life and bringing life through this ministry. As a leader in our Pakistani Community, Sr. Violet helped the formation program to really blossom, believing that our Sisters must develop into their best selves in order to serve as best they can in their ministries.
Her passing leaves a hole in our hearts, but we are incredibly grateful for her more than 30 years as a Dominican Sister of Sparkill.”
The Sparkill Community will celebrate the life of Sr. Violet Sampour at a Memorial Mass on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 11:00am. Friends of the Congregation are welcome to attend. (Dominican Convent, Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel, 175 Route 340, Sparkill, NY.)
The Sisters kindly request that in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to commemorate Sr. Violet’s life and ministry please make a donation in support of the Congregation’s mission in Pakistan.