Appreciations
His memory will linger forever
Zareen Ismail
Zareen Ismail passed away on July 30. He was only 47. I have known
Zareen for more than 25 years as a friend and gentleman.
He was loved,
respected and held in high esteem by all who knew him. I have never
heard him speak ill of another. He was a devoted husband, loving
father, concerned relative and sincere friend.
He walked with
kings but did not lose the common touch. O! Allah make his grave
a garden of bliss and also make the grave not a place of hellfire.
Though Zareen
is no more, his memory will linger forever. Farewell my friend until
we meet again at Jennathul Firdous, Insha Allah.
- Haniff Mohammed
The fragrance will live on
Mrs. Prema Perera
When I was informed that my beloved Aunty had passed away, I felt
an immense sense of loss and guilt for not having gone to see her
the day before when I was told her health was poor. I did not for
one moment think that the end was so near.
I have suffered separation by death from an early age and the death
of an aged relative or friend does not move me to tears. But this
death was different, for in her passing away I had lost someone,
who with the rest of her family, stood by me when I faced life's
tragedies. This was a loss of a true friend.
Her home, whether it was at Queen's Road, Skelton Road, Havelock
Road or Torrington Avenue was where her children's friends found
warmth and welcome. I remember Umesh's friends Saba, Dharman and
Thomas being welcomed with the same warmth that was extended to
Roshi's friends Malkanthi, Tikiri and Sarojini.
But
we were the special lot - Nilanthi, Kamani and me. We found a home
away from home in Aunty's house. We would barge into her room, sleep
on her bed, raid the fridge and literally park ourselves there,
as and when we felt like it. This was a speciality - her warmth.
All her children have inherited this special trait and they continue
to open their homes and hearts to friends, in a day and age where
the culture is "each man for himself". The many, who came
to pay their respects to this fine lady did so I believe, as much
as to remember the times that were, as to offer their condolences
to Umesh and Sharmali, Roshini, Gamini, Devika and Hemanatha.
She was a person who took equal pride in the achievements of her
much loved nieces and nephews and their children as much as she
did of her own. Aunty would recall her life before I met her, and
the grand lives of her sisters and brothers-in-law.
Each
would be remembered by her for what they meant to society and to
her. Each act of kindness by one of them would be remembered and
cherished by her. When I became her friend and confidante, all her
joys and sorrows she shared with me. Though I was her youngest daughter's
friend, we found in each other a companionship to which age was
not a barrier .
Her life she devoted to her children and they in turn honoured her.
When it was no longer necessary to run house she moved in with Umesh
and Sharmali and spent the eighties there, with her beloved nieces
in close proximity. The nineties were mostly spent at Roshi's and
Gamini's; when Devika was away in Australia. The last days of her
life she spent with Devika and Hemanatha and there she received
all the care and comfort required until the final moment.
In all three homes she was equally loved and cherished and she was
also blessed with nieces and nephews who had the same warmth. Long
after her death, the fragrance of her life will live on and she
will always be remembered by those who loved her.
Vijayaluxmi
Vivid
memories, framed picture
Kokila Patience Outschoorn
We think of you in silence.
We often speak your name.
But all we have
are vivid memories
and a picture in a frame.
In life we loved you dearly,
after death
we love you more.
In our hearts
we hold a special place,
no one else will ever fill.
Silent tears pour down helplessly
and are quickly wiped away.
Painful heartaches linger forever more.
No words can assuage our profound grief.
- Lionel Outschoorn
She saw only
the positive side
Mrs. Komathy Saravanapavan
It is with a sense of sadness that I write about my beloved relative
and friend Mrs. Salasalojini Saravanapavan, endearingly called Komathy.
The demise
of Komathy at 46 bears testimony to the fact that the good die young.
Komathy, whom
I have known for more than 30 years never spoke ill of others. She
always saw only the positive side of a person. She made it a point
not to offend anyone but used subtle diplomacy to drive home her
point of view in any discussion.
She joined the Bank of Ceylon in the late 1970s and through dedicated
service and loyalty rose to the rank of an Executive Officer.
At the time
of her untimely death, she was Assistant Manageress at the Bank
of Ceylon, Kattankudy branch. Incidentally, she was the first lady
from this district to be appointed to such a high post.
Komathy who
was born into an educated and respected family, married S. Saravanapavan,
a Senior Assistant Manager of the Bank of Ceylon. Giritharan, aged
10, is their only son. May her sorrowing husband and son garner
the courage and learn to live without her, who was once their shadow.
May she attain the supreme bliss of Moksha.
A.P. Anantham
Athletics was
Raba’s first love
Raba
Gunasekera
It was with profound sorrow that the wide circle of friends of Raba
Gunasekera learnt of his demise just after the second leg of the
Bradby Shield in Colombo. Providence made Raba travel to Colombo
from the USA to watch this year's Bradby, with a large number of
friends and have a re-union in Colombo by playing the game he loved
so much.
Raba and I
were classmates from Grade 1 at S. Thomas' Prep School, Kollupitiya.
Raba was always active and his elder brother Suranjith was there
to safeguard him whenever the prefects caught him being over- mischievous.
Raba excelled
in sports at Prep School, with athletics being his first love at
that time. He was a super sprinter. Thereafter, Raba and I moved
to Royal College where we came under the eye of his late uncle,
E.C. Gunasekera who was Vice Principal. We were in Raba's shadow
when we had to approach his uncle who was a very strict disciplinarian.
At Royal too,
Raba excelled in athletics and rugby. He represented Royal at under-15,
17 and first IV Rugby. He was under coaches such as Summa Navaratnam
and Malik Samarawickrama. Raba first played as a flanker and later
as a winger. Royal went on to win the Bradby Shield during his captaincy
and were school champions.
Raba was a
team man who led from the front. His players loved him and respected
him both on and off the field. After school rugby, Raba played for
CR&FC and CH&FC.
He would have gone to greater heights in the game in Sri Lanka if
he did not migrate to America.
We have lost
a good friend. It will be difficult for his family to come to grips
with his demise. Our prayers are with them at this moment. May Raba
rest in peace!
- Johanne De Zilwa
A
many-faceted woman
Mallika Abeysirigunewardena
It is five years since the death of my beloved wife, Mallika Abeysirigunewardena
nee Mallika Geraldine Yapa Abeywardena. We were married for 40 years.
A pooja was held at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy to bestow merit
on her, on her fifth death anniversary on August 23. The next day
a pinkama was held at the Sri Jethavanarama Vihara at Katugastota.
Mallika's parents
influenced her a lot during her formative years. She had her primary
education at Vincent Girls' High School, Batticaloa, during Principal
G. Croft's era.
Later she attended Holy Family Convent, Kalutara, St. Thomas' Girls'
School, Matale, St. Bernadette's College, Polgahawela, St. Scholastics
Girls' College, Kandy, Christ Church College, Kurunegala and lastly
St. Ursula's Convent, Badulla.
She had to
move from school to school because her father, the late Gerald Edwin
Yapa Abeywardena was a Senior Station Master who was transferred
often. In school, she excelled in netball and athletics and was
also a Girl Guide. She was a member of the school choir.
Mallika was
a woman of many facets. Having lived in Pilimatalawa for nearly
43 years, there was nobody in the area who did not know her. Later
in life she turned her hand to writing and ended up as an English
journalist. She was the provincial correspondent for the now defunct
Sun newspaper. Later she wrote for the Times of Ceylon and the Daily
Mirror.
My wife was
a lovable person with sterling qualities. She led a very simple
life.Sunday, August 23, 1998 will always remain a black day in my
memory. That was the day she breathed her last. May she attain Ama
Maha Nirvana - the great blissful Nirvana!
To me and the
children, she has not departed from our home but gone elsewhere
seeking solace in another world, perhaps to a divine world, to return
sooner or later.
Ealian
Abeysirigunewardena
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