Rajikutty Philip

Rajikutty Philip (Raji) was born to the late Vazhappallil Philipose and Mariama Philipose on May 15th, 1950 in Tharamel Puthenveed, Mavelikara, Kerala, India. She was the eldest of eight siblings. She completed nursing school at J.J. Hospital in Bombay, India. She married Rev. Chacko Philip on August 18th, 1975 and moved to the United States where God blessed them with three children, Benson, Betsy, and Brian.

She then completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Health Administration at St. Joseph College in Brooklyn, NY. Raji blessed so many lives working at Montefiore Medical Center from 1978 until October 2011. In 1978, Raji dedicated her life to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and took water baptism according to the Word of God.

She and her husband faithfully supported the Lord’s work as members of New York Pentecostal Assembly. In 1994, Raji and Rev. Chacko Philip stepped forward in faith to further pursuit the Lord’s work by starting Bethel Gospel Fellowship in Rockland County.

Raji served the Lord faithfully within Bethel Gospel Fellowship until 2011 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She then continued her ministry touching the lives of everyone she interacted with through her treatments and three year battle with the disease.

On Monday, January 12, 2015 at 3:05PM she peacefully passed into eternity to be with the Lord. She is survived by her husband Rev. Chacko Philip, eldest son Benson Philip, daughter-in-law Cynthia Philip, and their two children, Jacob and Emily; by her daughter Betsy Cherian, son-in-law Roshin Cherian, and their two children Rachel and Rebecca; and by her son Brian Philip, and daughter-in-law Ancy Philip. She is also survived by her siblings Lizy Mathew, V.P. Varghese, Omana George, Molly Mathew, Annie Geevarghese, John Philip, and Shiny Varughese and in-laws K.J Mathew, Kunjamma Mathew, George Kutty, Rev. John Mathew, Rev. G. Geevarghese, Elizabeth John, and Rev. George Varughese

Rajikutty will be most remembered by her heart of worship, her passion to serve the Lord, her devotion to prayer, and her limitless love for her husband, children, and family. She was a great woman of integrity, was humble, gentle, and intelligent. Most importantly, she has passed her torch of ministry to her children, and children’s children and will be forever remembered as a strong Woman of Faith.