Sr.Avila (Lilly) was the eldest of seven children for her parents, late Mr.John Kochikunnel and late Mrs.Thresiakkutty. She was born on 21 November, 1928 at Thottakkara, Kothamangalam diocese. She joined SD and made her First Profession on 7 January, 1950 and Perpetual Profession on 5 January, 1956. Fr.Sebastian Kochikunnel is her nephew and late Sr.Teresa MarySD is her aunt. Sr.Avila passed General Nursing in 1954, and worked in private and govt.hospitals. For a long period of 30 years she served in Aluva, Parur, Vaikom, Chempu, Ernakulam, Muvattupuzha, an Kozhikode government hospitals and Medical Colleges. Literally she was a mother for the poor, needy, abandoned patients. Her hard working nature, silent and  selfless service deserve special mention. After retirement, Sr.Avila worked at different places in Tamil Nadu -Viyasrpady Old Age Home, Santhome Old Priest Home, Madras and in dispensaries at Thandalam, Sennathur and Varthattu. She loved her sisters and enlivened the community also. She found joy in serving the poor and wanted to die there in the old age home itself as one among them. In 2007, she came back to Kerala and started working at Elikulam Old Age Home of Kanjirappally Diocese. She suffered from lack of sleep and breathing difficulty for a long time. She used to spend long hours before the Blessed Sacrament during her sleepless nights. While in Elikulam she was admitted in Marian Hospital Pala, due to bronchitis. There she consciouslyreceived the Sacrament of the Sick and at 10.55pm, in the night, she passed away, on 23 November, 2016. Dear Sr.Avila, your simplicity and dedicated service to the destitute brethren is a model to us.