Having lost her mother at a very young age, she was brought up by her maternal aunt and educated by an uncle who was a priest. She faced several health problems, which eventually claimed her life July 28, 1946.

On Dec 2, 1953, Eugene-Gabriel-Gervais-Laurent Cardinal Tisserant inaugurated the diocesan process for her beatification and Alphonsa was declared a 'servant of god'. On July 9, 1985, she received the title Venerable Sister Alphonsa.

She was beatified Feb 8, 1986, by Pope John II at the Nehru Stadium in Kottayam.