Appreciations
View(s):You said goodbye with a smile
Yasawardena Kalyana Tissa De Silva
Ask anyone who knew my father and they would tell you of a man who loved to laugh; often with a casual joke or two up his sleeve. Thaththi was a person who would simply smile at whatever obstacles life would throw at him and eventually none of them seemed to be able to ruffle him either. Even on that fateful momentwhen he was suddenly snatched away from us, he was happily chatting with us over a cup of tea. The final emotion etched on his face was the beautiful smile which our hearts so dearly crave to see again.
Despite his jovial nature, thaththi was a man of many traits. The prowess my father possessed in the English language amazed and delighted many a time. In the days of hand-written notes to school, we were always so eager to have him write them so that we could show off his stylish handwriting and profound selection of words to our friends and teachers.Thaththi was an avid reader who had a vast collection of books acquired since his younger days and he was keen on passing on the habit to us at a very early age.
As an ardent Anandian, thaththi had been a dynamic personality during his school days. Having represented his alma mater in cadeting, swimming, rugby and hockey he had numerous fun filled stories to share with us about the mischievous deeds of those times. After our stay in Seychelles, he took up tourism which he enjoyed greatly.
Always well read on any current topic, he could converse with anyone on any subject, much to the surprise of his colleagues at times.
My father was a man of few words and a generously big heart. Whenever someone needed his help, they need not even ask, he would be by their side. To us, he was the driving force behind all our activities. Every competition, every tournament and every exam, he was right there encouraging us through it. Without his motivation I would never have made it to the Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa nor my brother to the Faculty of Medicine, Ragama. To Ammi, he was the constant pillar of support and assisted her in all family matters. Together, the four of us travelled the world and around Sri Lanka.
Thaththi who was a devout Buddhist had the highest regard for the Triple Gem. The chief priest of the Vimala Viharaya, Nawala would always be happy to see him in the temple. He set a good example of ‘Dhaanaya’ to everyone by being the sponsor for the Navam Poya Day almsgiving for the Maha Sangha and more than 100 devotees who observe sil there. Our grief of his loss in these times can only be slightly comprehended by the teachings of uncertainty (‘anitya’) that he helped us learn.
The world may have missed a silent yet thoughtful man but we,his family, dearly miss a loving father and caring husband. Thaththi you will always be remembered with that beautiful smile of yours; the smile that enlightened us when we were sad, that lifted us up when we were down, and the smile with which you finally left us. Goodbye thaththi, you will be forever missed. May you attain Nibbana!
Your loving chuty duwa,
Himeshi De Silva
With a voice soft as an angel she guided many
Rexalene Andradi
Like the Blessed Mother, or any graceful mother, she spoke little and listened much trying to understand the pain and struggle of those who were near and dear to her. When she spoke, it was soft as the voice of an angel, whispering a comforting word to guide or persuade someone.
April 9 will mark the 100th birth anniversary of Rexalene Andradi. She had lovingly cared for seven children, 14 grand-children, 17 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild with two more grand-children on the way. Most of them will gather for a thanksgiving, Eucharistic celebration and family reunion lunch at her eldest daughter’s residence.
Going through the hills and valleys of life’s journey, the storms and the setbacks, Rexalene Andradi always turned her eyes upon the Lord Jesus and looked full in His wonderful face. Then for her as for millions of others, the things of this world would grow strangely dim in the light of the Lord’s glory and grace.
After she met the Risen Lord and began a deep and growing relationship with him, Rexalene Andradi would begin her day by reading and reflecting on the Holy Bible, especially the book of Psalms with their wonderful songs of faith and hope. So throughout the day she was able to turn her thoughts to the Lord Jesus and drink deep from His wellspring of love, so that the strain of any sin with its self centredness or strife was lost in the rapture of love.
The Lord Jesus, in a post-resurrection prophecy told us that, just as He lives and abides in us, we need to live and abide in Him by connecting ourselves to Him. Then we will produce the fruit of love. The Lord said we could connect ourselves to Him by obeying the one great commandment He gives us – “Love one another as I love you”.
Rexalene Andradi did that. So her family members and others saw in her an abundance of the fruit of the Holy Spirit – love, joy and peace, patience and kindness, forgiveness and mercy, humility, meekness and faithfulness.
What a friend she had in Jesus. What a privilege it was for her to carry everything to the Lord in prayer. So at the end of her journey she would have been able to sing from her heart those immortal words of hope:
Hope as anchor so steadfast,
Breaks the dark veil of the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal,
Come then oh come, Blessed saviour
Come to my sad weary heart,
Come oh Thou blessed hope of glory,
Never oh never depart.
As her family gathers to thank God and thank her on her 100th birthday, Rexalene Andradi in Heaven would join them by praying: “God be with you till we all meet again”.
Louis
‘Dostara achchi’ it’s still hard to imagine you’re no longer with us
Dr. Stella de Silva
On April 12 last year, my grand-aunt Dr. Stella de Silva passed away peacefully at home leaving behind a large void in our family and in the medical profession that cannot be filled. Indeed it was a testament to how loved she was, that at the time of her passing she was surrounded by most of her family, (almost 15 of us!) including my two aunts who hadn’t left her side for many months prior.
Dr. Stella was always ‘dostara achchi’, the lady who looked after several generations of children in her 60 years of service. My brother and I were bad asthmatics when we were younger and constantly in and out of her house. She was an amazing doctor, with a magical healing touch. I would be struggling to breathe at home, and as soon as I got to her house, I used to get miraculously better.
Matriarch and family advisor, it was to her that everyone went with their problems and despite her busy schedule she always had time to sit, listen and advise when needed. Most of the time you didn’t have to ask her for help, she knew what was needed for us even if at that time we didn’t know ourselves!
Her home was always open to us and almost every member of our immediate family would have lived at her home at some point of our lives. Because she would only finish seeing patients late we could only visit her late at night and although I’m sure she would have been exhausted she always made time to talk to us. She also had a great sense of humour and could always take a joke even if it was at her expense.
Although she was dedicated to her profession, Doctor Achchi had many interests and it was this that made her an even more fascinating person. She was well travelled, going overseas at least once a year, diligently photographing everything as evidenced by the scores of photo albums in her room. She was also an avid reader, having collected over a 1,000 books over the years! She was also a great lover of classical music. The vast collection of records she had bears testimony to that.
She was not married, but was close to her large extended family of nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. She knew how much I loved reading and every time she went abroad she would buy me a book, never the same book twice, and I was just one person in an immediate family of almost 30.
One year later Dostara achchi, it’s still hard to imagine that you’re no longer with us. Words cannot express how much you are missed. We are better people for having had you in our lives. May you attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.
Nadeeka De Silva
A legend so precious and rare
Ruby Salie (Aunty Ruby)
Like a ruby, precious and rare,
Almost a hundred, she still stood there,
An epitome of courtesy, diplomacy and manners -
She instilled in little Rummy
That soup is eaten and not drunk!
Alive, alive, o! alive, alive o!
Like the cockles and mussels sold by the maid in Irish folk song – alive alive o!
Until the very end, she stood strong on her feet,
At ninety nine her spirit, barely could we beat.
Ate she but little and was very controlled,
From eating to spending, thrifty she was.
Having lived through a Great War,
The hardship of existence she bore,
And thought it key to impart to us all.
Even a simple meal of bread she would share
With the downtrodden and those who were there,
Depriving the privileged and spoiling the deprived -
She strived to achieve to balance in her stride.
Like a feather light and agile,
Soft yet strong; a woman still, on her own.
Questioned in her youth yet appreciated today,
Her will and determination to succeed in life’s way.
An institution of what she bore,
Aunty Ruby’s name spans numerous shores-
From Australia to Lanka to the Big Apple
Of Aunty Ruby they would speak.
You are truly a legend, precious and rare.
We hope you are rewarded by the Supreme; where you are.
We love you and thank you Aunty – for all,
It is a great loss the Salie family bears.
Great-grandniece Zainab Ajmal Mubarak
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