By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 11: The remains of distinguished Bisaya Sarawakian nurse and academician Jane Buncuan are expected to return to Sarawak on Aug 14, more than two months after she passed away in Spain on June 4.
Buncuan, who was from Kampung Batu Danau Limbang, died at Bellvitge University Hospital in Barcelona while on a pilgrimage in Spain.
Her niece, Davina Elaine John, has been handling arrangements for her remains in Spain with the repatriation process taking several months.
According to a statement by Persatuan Bisaya Sarawak Cawangan Bandar Kuching (PBSCBK), the latest arrangements confirmed by the family are for Buncuan’s remains to be transferred to Kwong Tong Funeral Parlour in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 13.
The following morning, they are scheduled to depart Kuala Lumpur at 8.55am and arrive in Miri at 11.30am before being transported by road directly to Limbang.
For family members in Miri wishing to pay their last respects, the remains will be available at MAS Cargo Miri from 11am on Aug 14.
Buncuan leaves behind a distinguished career spanning public health nursing, nursing education and community service.
She served for 25 years at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) before retiring in 2020, and was one of three pioneers involved in establishing the university’s Bachelor of Nursing with Honours programme.
Her contributions included curriculum development as well as legal and academic matters relating to the programme.
Before joining UNIMAS, Buncuan worked in public health nursing, supervising maternal and child health services at district and divisional levels. She also managed Sarawak’s Nutrition Programme for almost a decade.
Beyond her professional career, she served as President of the Catholic Nurses Guild Malaysia since 2018 and was actively involved in the Sarawak Bisaya Association in cultural, social and welfare initiatives.
Her community work included supporting Bisaya patients referred to Kuching for specialised treatment, while her involvement with the Malaysian Nurses Association and Sarawak Women for Women Society included health programmes, women’s empowerment initiatives, seminars and community outreach.
Her contribution also extended to the international Catholic healthcare community through the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants (CICIAMS).
On June 13, 2024, as Chair of the CICIAMS Statutes Committee, Buncuan represented CICIAMS at the Annual Meeting of Moderators of Ecclesiastical Movements and New Communities in Vatican City.
The meeting, organised by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, focused on “The Challenge of Synodality for the Mission” and included an address and individual greeting from Pope Francis.
Her Funeral Mass is scheduled for 9am on Aug 17 at St John Apostle Church, Liok Batu, Limbang, followed by burial at the Catholic Cemetery in Bakul.
The family said the arrangements were confirmed as of Aug 8 and that any further changes would be communicated accordingly.
Buncuan’s passing is a loss to the nursing profession, the Bisaya community and the Catholic healthcare community, with her career spanning healthcare, education and community service in Sarawak, Malaysia and beyond. — DayakDaily
