Grant her eternal rest, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.

Reverend Stella Sudatta Boidya, passed away on October 26 at 5.30 a.m in the Bollovpur Mission Old Age Home in Meherpur. She was 82 years old. She was the first female priest of the Church of Bangladesh.

Her funeral service was held on October 27 at 10:00 a.m. at Epiphany Church, Barishal, officiated by Father John. The burial service followed at 11:00 a.m., conducted by Bishop Sourabh Pholia. A large number of people attended to pay their last respects. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

Rev. Boidya was born in 1942 in Dhamsor village, Barishal. As a pioneering female priest, she faithfully served in various parishes of the Church of Bangladesh for many years. In the later years of her life, she ministered as the priest of the Oxford Mission Epiphany Church, Barishal.

She studied theology at St. Andrew’s Theological College, Dhaka and was ordained as a deacon at Christ the King Church, Khalishpur, Khulna, in 1996. The following year, in 1997, Rev. Sudatta Boidya and Rev. Manorama Mitra were ordained as priests at St. Thomas Cathedral, Dhaka, making they are the first female priests of the Church of Bangladesh.

Before her ordination, she taught at Oxford Mission High School and later served as the warden of homes in Bollovepur, Kaligram, and Khalishpur under the Child Care Department of the Church of Bangladesh. She cared for the children and girls there with great compassion and maternal love, becoming like a mother to many.

At the time of her death, she left behind countless beloved students, former residents, colleagues, relatives, and devoted members of the congregation who deeply admired her life of service and faith. It is also worth noting that Rev. Sudatta Boidya lived a life of perpetual virginity, wholly dedicated to her calling and ministry.