By Marisol Bo-oc, Helen Castano | 06:54 PM February 15, 2021
The University of Bohol (UB) on Monday paid tribute to Estrella Bersamen-Catalan, a nurse in the United Kingdom who died of COVID-19 in February, and expressed its sincere condolences to her family over her passing.
In a statement on Monday, Dr. Victoriano B. Tirol, III, president of UB, said that “University of Bohol joins the entire nation in mourning for the demise of a Boholana nurse Estrella Catalan who died of COVID-19 at the age of 52.”
Catalan graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1989 from UB, the first university in Bohol province.
“The UB Family is very proud of her for being an extra miler, dedicated medical front-liner, and professional health worker. Indeed, she truly lived up to the trinity of virtues of this institution –scholarship, character, and service,” the statement said.
Before her death, Catalan was with Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) in the UK as an emergency department staff nurse for 18 years.
She died in the line of service in helping others fight against the disease.
Estrella was born and raised in Barangay Tugas, Candijay town. She was married to Melvin Catalan, an engineer from La Carlota City, Negros Occidental. They have three sons- John, Vince and Josuah. Vince died two years ago.
Last week, more than 100 hospital staff have paid tribute to Estrella.
Sam Higginson, NNUH chief executive, said Catalan was a wonderful person and a caring and conscientious nurse who loved to teach and mentor students.