It is with deep regret that I pen these words of tribute in memory of my late husband Victor. He passed away on January 22, 2009. Three years previously he was diagnosed as having Parkinson’s disease. A devout Roman Catholic, he faced his illness with courage.
In his last days, we lived with our eldest daughter in Moratuwa, with our other two daughters also taking care of him.
As an Officer In Charge with the Land Development Department, my husband served in remote parts of Sri Lanka, both south and north.
I decided to give up my job as a teacher because my husband wanted me to accompany him wherever he went. We were stationed in Neluwa, Embilipitiya and Kataragama, as well as Vavuniya, Mankulam, Periyamadhu and Madhu.
At the time our youngest daughter was born, we were stationed in Madhu, living on the Madhu Church premises, near the hospital. My husband was then transferred to the head office in Colombo.
He was a humble person with a heart of gold. He valued family life and showed this in the way he bestowed love and affection on the family.
He was a lovable “Loku Thaaththa” to his two grandsons and two granddaughters. He appreciated everything we did for him. He used to tell me, “Where would I be without you?”
He was a truly good example of how to be a good human being.
Josephine Fernando |
E-mail