A wonderful mother who did so much

Winnie Roslyn Samaranayake

By Preethi

It is 23 years since my mother passed away and today April 15 is her 85th birth anniversary. As time passes we begin to realize her value more and more. She had diabetes and hypertension and passed away peacefully on February 25, 1984, from a severe stroke.

She had taught at Christ Church Girls College, Baddegama where she had studied but had given up because my father wanted a housewife. She was good at drawing, art, handwork and sewing. She used to sew dresses for all of us and my father was very proud of her. She did a lot of hand embroidery too.

She used to plant vegetables in the back garden and flowers in the front garden. She had planted lime and even pepper. I can remember we got prizes for the best kept home garden for a few consecutive years when we were in Galle. All this was done in a rented house.

She used to make delicious meals for us. Some of my cousins still talk about the tasty dishes she used to make. Whoever came to the house was never sent away without being given even a simple meal.

I am the eldest of four daughters. She helped me a lot when I was leaving the country in 1973. When I had my two sons she helped in the confinements and also when they were born she helped in every way she could because my husband could not be present as he was working abroad at that time.

Now my sons are grown up and we realize more and more the value of my mother. Both my sons are doing quite well in life and are exemplary citizens of the world.

She was a true Christian. My father was from a Buddhist family. My mother attended to all the Buddhist activities although she was a Christian.My father took her to church for Easter and Christmas. She won the hearts of all the maternal and paternal relations. I think this was due to her extra kindness.

As my father was a teacher we lived mainly in rural areas where a majority of the people were Buddhists. My mother helped many needy people in any way she could. She helped the neighbours in numerous ways. This was witnessed by the large gathering that came for her funeral.