Sister Zela Procter RIP

THANK YOU FOR COMING!   Those words, spoken in a loud voice, would ring in my ears as I left Chestnut Manor after visiting Sr. Zela. She was always pleased to see visitors and greeted us warmly.       I think friends and family will remember Zela’s enthusiasm, sense of fun, warmth of personality and her love for a glass of red wine!   

Zela Margaret Procter was born in Isleworth, Middlesex, the middle child of Connie and Ernest Procter.    Along with her sisters Daphne and Freda her early childhood home was in Burma.  Her English father was the Chief Engineer of Burma Railways; her mother was of Scottish, German and Burmese ancestry. 

When the Japanese invaded Burma in early 1942 the family joined the frantic evacuation to India.  They spent the remainder of the war living on a houseboat in Kashmir.  Zela continued her schooling there - her dancing teacher was the author Rumer Godden.  We have no reports of Zela’s skills as a dancer! 

Those early years were always vivid and very important to Zela.  So much so, that many years later, as an Ursuline, she returned to Myanmar to spend time with her mother’s relatives reabsorbing that very important formative part of her life.   

At the end of the war the family returned to England.  Sadly, Daphne had died by this time.  Freda and Zela went as boarders to the Ursuline school in Westgate.  Zela very much enjoyed her years there.    She did well academically and made many friends.  Knowing Zela as we do, it’s not a surprise to learn that she achieved Grade 5 in a Speech and Drama exam – there was always a theatrical side to Zela!  

At university she was active in a variety of societies, played in the college lacrosse team, was greatly interested in sailing and had a part in the production of Ben Jonson’s Bartholomew Fair.    Certainly, a woman of many parts! 

As a History and Religious Education teacher Zela was well loved for the way she made her lessons interesting and interactive.   Whilst teaching at St Angela’s Forest Gate, Zela decided to respond to God’s call to become an Ursuline.  She made her first vows in April 1963.  

After completing her PhD Zela taught in Ilford and Greenwich and was Headteacher at Westgate.  Past students remember her kindness and her encouragement for them to dream great things.    

Whilst Headteacher at Westgate a nervous Head Boy from the local boys’ boarding school arrived at her office to ask if there could be a joint dance. Always one for a party Zela agreed.  That boy was one of the concelebrants at the funeral Mass in Wanstead.    

When Zela was prioress in Wimbledon, she had the unenviable task of sensitively working with the sisters to move from the long-established convent into a smaller house which could accommodate only half the community.  By means of skilful conversations, community discussions and much heartache the move was made. The first of many such moves Ursulines would make over the coming years.  

Zela’s love for her family was very strong.  Her sister Freda, who is watching the Mass via webcam, spoke of Zela’s affection and continual support.  She said Zela always encouraged her and gave her confidence when she was feeling unsure about herself. Margaret, her niece, has many happy memories of an aunt she has known and loved all her life.   

Margaret writes: “My strongest memory was when she contacted us one day to say after her prayers and that of the sisters she knew Emma, our daughter, would recover from rheumatoid arthritis and be perfectly well.”     And so she did. 

We know that it gave Zela great joy to be present in Liverpool Cathedral for Margaret’s Ordination Service. 

We are delighted that family members Margaret, Graham, Alistair and Helen are here with us today.

Zela was artistic, had a flare for colour – especially purple -  and greatly valued the opportunities she had for icon writing.     She was well -read and a great conversationalist.

Most importantly Zela was an Ursuline with a great love for St Angela Merici, our foundress.  It was while Zela was vicar for Religious in Southwark and vocations director for the English province that Sr. Ann-Marie Gardiner first met her.  She recalls Zela’s love and enthusiasm for St Angela which was so deep and very infectious.    Over the years this love for Angela was deepened as Zela read widely to gain a greater understanding of this 16th century woman who had founded the Company of St Ursula.

In 1993 Zela and Sr. Kieran O’Riordan were the founding members of the Ursuline community in Lancaster.  Here they made great friends with the local parish community.  Zela’s ministry with the students at Lancaster university was greatly rewarding for her.  

It was while Zela was living in Lancaster that she gathered young mothers around her to share Angela’s charism.  From these sessions grew the desire to start the secular institute of the Company of St Ursula in England.   It was with great happiness that Zela was present on 25th November 2009 when two members made their first vows.

After more than twenty fulfilling years in Lancaster Zela moved back to Greenwich where she again became involved with activities in the local parish.

When her health began to fail in 2021, she moved to the Forest Gate community where she was greatly supported by our dedicated Care Team. Zela suffered significantly during the last two years of her life.  She tried to remain positive, retained her love of drawing, and was delighted when family, friends and Ursulines visited her.  Dementia was not a friend to Zela.  We appreciate the support and care Zela received at Chestnut Manor.

 Zela lived a long and fulfilled life.  She was grateful for the many opportunities she had to use her gifts to support and enable numerous people to grow and flourish.    As Ursulines we valued her companionship and friendship. 

Despite the incapacities of her final years Zela retained her sense of merriment. When sorting her room, Maria Martins handed me an envelope containing money that Zela had kept safely in a suitcase for the two of them to go out for a meal together.   I’m sure Zela will be looking down with delight when Maria, who cared for her with such kindness, has that meal with a friend in her memory -  along, of course, with a glass of red wine!    

 Rest in peace, Zela!