:Ruth Lewis
{{Short description|Pakistani Roman Catholic nun (1946–2020)}}
{{for|the English social reformer and collector of Welsh folk songs|Ruth Herbert Lewis}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox adult biography
| name = Ruth Lewis | honorific_suffix = SI
| image =
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| birth_name =
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| death_date = 20 July 2020
| death_place = Karachi, Pakistan
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| nationality = Pakistani
| citizenship = Pakistani
| education =
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| occupation = Religious sister
| years_active = 1969–2020
| organization = Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King
| spouse =
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| awards = Pride of Karachi Award 2014
Hakim Mohammed Said Award 2018
Sitara-i-Imtiaz 2020
}}
Ruth Lewis (1946 – 20 July 2020){{cite web |title=Dar-ul-Sukoon Sister Ruth Lewis passes away from coronavirus |date=21 July 2020 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1570316/karachi-darul-sukoon-incharge-sister-ruth-lewis-passes-away-from-covid-19 |publisher=Dawn |accessdate=21 July 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/pakistan/2020/07/dar-ul-sukoon-sister-ruth-lewis-death-coronavirus/|title=Dar-ul-Sukoon founder Sister Ruth Lewis passes away from coronavirus | SAMAA|website=Samaa TV}} was a Roman Catholic nun of the religious congregation for women, the Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King, living and working in Karachi, Pakistan.
Vocation
On 17 February 1969, she became along with Sr. Gertrude Lemmens and Sr. Margaret D'Costa, one of the first to join the staff of Darul Sukun, home for around 150 mentally and physically disabled people, mostly children and teenagers, founded by the sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King.
Since 2000, she has been in charge of the Darul Sukun. Sister Lewis was assisted by a team of five other nuns. Some of the residents like Cookie Lewis were so attached to the nun that she adopted her surname.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/2007/08/10/catholic-center-in-karachi-helps-empower-give-skills-to-disabled&post_id=6236|title=Catholic Center in Karachi Helps Empower, Give Skills To Disabled|website=ucanews.com|date=9 August 2007|accessdate=23 July 2020}}
She depended on many people and institutions who helped her run a home of this size. She praised the people who come and supply groceries, clothes or whatever the sisters need for the institution. Volunteers from schools and other organisations also help feed the children and play with them. She was also assisted by volunteers from the Netherlands who stay to help for as much as three months. Without financial assistance from the Government, she relied on donations to run the institution.
She was particularly proud of four of the children who won medals in the Special Olympics held in the United States in 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1999/10/26/islamic-ramadan-donations-help-run-catholic-orphanage&post_id=14698|title=Islamic Ramadan Donations Help Run Catholic Orphanage|website=ucanews.com}}
Her role included welcoming visitors like American singer Mary McBride and Amanda Claudwell, the US press attaché in Karachi, who visited on October 30, 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/285266/residents-of-dar-ul-sukun-sing-and-dance-with-american-singer|title=Residents of Dar-ul-Sukun sing and dance with American singer|date=October 31, 2011|website=The Express Tribune (newspaper)|accessdate=23 July 2020}}
She has been listed among the people in Imran Aslam's book on the men and women who shaped Karachi.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thefridaytimes.com/karachi-a-parallel-narrative/|title=Karachi: A Parallel Narrative|author=Danish Hassan|newspaper=The Friday Times (newspaper)|date=26 September 2014|accessdate=23 July 2020}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Making a wish
In January 2015, Make-A-Wish Foundation Pakistan granted the wish of Cookie Lewis from Darul Sukun, to be a teacher for a day. The President of Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Director of Education were also present with Sister Lewis at a ceremony held for the occasion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/10549-make-a-wish-child-appointed-teacher-for-a-day|title=Make A-Wish child appointed teacher for a day|website=www.thenews.com.pk}}
Recognition
On 18 January 2014, she received the Pride of Karachi Award, which aimed to recognize and honor those individuals who have worked selflessly and passionately for the betterment of society.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXP3VeTuQUw|title=Youtube 19 January 2014|website=YouTube }}
In 2018, she received the Hakim Mohammed Said Award for her work for humanity. The award was presented by Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/01/25/sindh-governor-congratulates-hamdard-laboratories-on-re-branding-their-company/|title=Sindh governor congratulates Hamdard Laboratories on re-branding their company | Pakistan Today|website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk}}
Sister Ruth Lewis died due to complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan on 20 July 2020 in Karachi.{{cite news |title=Darul Sukoon incharge Sister Ruth Lewis dies of coronavirus |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/07/21/darul-sukoon-incharge-sister-ruth-lewis-dies-of-coronavirus/ |newspaper=Pakistan Today (newspaper)|accessdate=21 July 2020}}
On 14 August 2020, President Arif Alvi announced the posthumous grant of the civil award Sitara-i-Imtiaz to Lewis for her Public Service.[https://www.dawn.com/news/1574460/posthumous-nishan-i-imtiaz-for-sadequain-ahmad-faraz Dawn August 15, 2020]
References
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Category:Female Roman Catholic missionaries
Category:Pakistani Roman Catholic missionaries
Category:Date of birth missing
Category:Place of birth missing
Category:Roman Catholic missionaries in Pakistan
Category:20th-century Pakistani Roman Catholic nuns
Category:21st-century Pakistani Roman Catholic nuns
Category:Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz