‘One year, flew too fast,’ says my friend Philip Wewita, when he invited us for the alms giving to be held at his residence on November 6, the day completing a year, after the passing away of his beloved wife Joyce Wewita.
Born to R.A. De Alwis, a leading businessman and Mrs. De Alwis of Talangama in Battaramulla, she was the eldest in the family.
After receiving higher education at the University of Colombo, she started her career at the Ceylon Tourist Board.
In early 1970s I had the good fortune of meeting her, when she was proposed to my friend Philip Wewita. Joyce and Philip shared over 40 years of blissful marriage. They were not only husband and wife, but best of friends. Their relationship was all encompassing, sharing their ambitions.
When her husband went abroad on a scholarship for two years, Joyce undertook the responsibility of looking after the new born baby, Dilshan. Whenever possible, she would travel to Singapore to be with her husband.
Later in life, she sent Dilshan and her daughter Chamindi to overseas universities and was proud of their achievements. Dilshan now looks after the family business with his father and Chamindi, after earning a medical degree is working in a leading Private Hospital in Colombo.
Our hearts are full of affection, gratitude, appreciation and honour for her. She was a devoted wife, caring mother, lovable grandmother and a very good friend to all. She was always soft spoken.
Even to her staff, as well as her domestics, she was caring, and concerned about their well being. She was a devout Catholic.
After her early retirement as a Director at the Ceylon Tourist Board, she helped her husband in the business, as a Director of Pussella Farms, Kosgama. Joyce looked after the home front, maintaining close relationships with friends and relatives of both sides.
She was a simple and unassuming lady, and never walked up to the stage as a Director of Pussella Farms, when they received several awards of excellence from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka Chamber of Industries and several other institutes.
Instead, she would send her husband Philip and son Dilshan to receive the awards. In fact, less than a month after her untimely demise, they received an invitation to Oxfordshire in UK to receive an international award for excellence in the management of their industry.
Had she been alive, she would have been very happy to see the company getting international recognition.
They enjoyed excellent cuisine and her residence at Talangama was filled with warmth and was a beacon of hospitality to all who visited them.
We miss a dear friend, who was there for us, both, through storms and sunshine, in our lives.
What an amazing lady she was!
God bless you, Joyce!
- Sunil Peiris