Sita Joseph de Saram, well known artist and music teacher, passed away peacefully in the company of family, on November 12, at age 84. Her cremation was, by her own request, private, with only family and close friends in attendance. Sita was predeceased by her husband, celebrated columnist, Sooty Banda, and her eldest son, musician, Rohan Joseph de Saram.
While Sita is best known as an artist, sculptor, and music teacher, she also wrote and illustrated several children's books on fauna and flora of Sri Lanka.
Her particular passion was the education of children in art and music.
There are, no doubt, many young adults scattered around the world today, who look back fondly on Saturdays spent playing music and painting at Sita's Lauries Road studio.
In addition to teaching privately, Sita was a long time teacher at Visakha Vidyalaya, where she had studied as a girl. One of her fondest accomplishments was the founding of a prize-winning Marching Band at Visakha.
As a result, thanks to their days in the Visakha Band, there are many successful young women out there who were instilled early in life with a sense of self-confidence, teamwork, and personal accomplishment.
Sita was always generous to those in need with her time, talents, and personal possessions. She donated her artistic skills to raise money for several charities in Sri Lanka as well as in the U.S.A, where she lived for several years.
Sita is survived by her daughter Jetsun Auer de Saram, son, Lakshman Joseph de Saram, and daughter, Amila de Saram; her grand children, Suhanya, Araan, and Anya; and her younger brother, John Henri de Saram.
A Scholarship Fund will be established by her family at Visakha Vidyalaya in her memory. |
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