G. Noeline De Silva
She led an exemplary life
I hope I would be able to do justice to the memory of this gentle lady who has touched our lives as either a family member, friend, colleague or a beloved teacher leaving loving memories in our hearts.
After a successful school career at Good Shepherd Convent Nayakakanda, Noeline joined the staff of St. Anthony’s College, Wattala as an assistant teacher. Later, she entered the Teachers’ Training College at Maharagama and did the special English course. After passing out, she taught in various schools such as, Ruwanwella Central, Vijaya College, Matale, Gonsalves MV, Pamunugama and later got a transfer to her hometown Mabola, Wattala and taught at St. Mary’s MV until her retirement. Always her main aim was to give a sound basic English education to the less privileged children of the area. With this idea she conducted English classes free of charge, and in the process, overcame all obstacles with courage.
She was also involved in various religious and social activities of the Mabola Parish and did a silent service for the uplift of the less privileged of the area. She was also an active member and one time president of the Legion of Mary and an energetic Sunday school teacher. After her retirement she joined the staff of Aquinas College of Higher Studies, Colombo 8 and served for over 10 years as a senior lecturer in the English diploma course.
A beautiful life, full of kind deeds, unselfish and caring are the memories she has left behind. Her compassion and kindness knew no bounds. She was completely free of pettiness in her attitude to others. These were the sterling qualities which endeared her to all those who had the good fortune to know her. She was a foster mother to many of her students. She possessed an unshakable love and caring for her husband and his family members.
Her illness two years prior to her passing away on November 2, 2017 was a shock to many. Even though she was handicapped during this period the attention and care rendered to her by her loved ones was admirable. She had in some way or other touched the lives of many, and left us with precious memories of her that we would always treasure. May all the merit you accrued during your lifetime help you to attain the eternal bliss of God’s heavenly Kingdom. May your gentle soul rest in the peace of the Lord.
- Nirmal De Silva
****
Annette Weerakkody (nee Fernando)
Prayed for the needs of others
“You have sent us ‘a Sigiri damsel’, how can we assure her safety here?” complained the school Principal of her first appointment as a teacher in a Roman Catholic Convent in Hatton, comparing her unique beauty to that of the women of the by gone painted in the Sigiriya frescoes. Truly, she was astounding in her youth. She was what we’d now call, ‘petite’; just four feet and ten inches tall, fair, with an oval face and prominent lips and long curly hair. But, she was not one to get her size nor her beauty get the better of her.
For her, it was all about fulfilling her mission on earth in the best possible way. Having got her first appointment as a teacher at the tender age of eighteen, she remained a teacher through and through, both in profession and in character.
She was demanding in a quiet way and her students remember her commanding the classroom with an affirming tone. Many would find comfort in her encouraging words and she was one to always put the weakest first, often doing extra classes after-school. She taught about 20 years of her career at St. Anthony’s School in Mount Lavinia and retired after 20 years of service from 1975 to 1995 at St Paul’s Girls’ School, Milagiriya.
Retirement paved the way for her to commit to matters of faith. She took up teaching at the Sunday School at St Joseph’s Church, Ratmalana, where she taught the O/L class and guided students on their spiritual journey. Working in the Sacred Heart Society of the Queen of Angels Church, Rawathawatta, paved the way for her to spend more time in prayer, especially, praying for the needs of others.
Her way of life was simple. She did not care for luxuries and whatever extra she earned or received she would share it among the less privileged.
The extent of her practice of sharing, we her family realized only after her demise, when people to whom she had helped came to pay their respects from near and far.
She had very little for herself, in terms of material possessions, but she treasured all those who came to her for help in her heart and prayed dearly for them.
To me and my cousins she was the perfect grandmother; ‘Loku’ we used to call her, short for ‘Lokuamma’. She made the best chicken curry in the world, a staple on our Sunday diet. Date cakes were also our favourite, served with a world class brew of tea.
Always one to grow as many leaves and veggies in the garden as possible, she taught us little skills, like how to correctly pick a ‘Kathurumurunga’ flower and drink its nectar before cooking it.
‘Patience is the paramount quality you have to build within yourself” she often said to me knowing my quick-tempered nature.
“If you have patience, everything else will be easy; patience with yourself as well as with others, and patience ultimately leads to forgiveness”.
She practised this throughout her life and especially, towards the end, in the face of life-threatening illness, she was patient.
“Should you live for your resume, or your eulogy?” asked David Brooks in a 2014 Ted Talk.
If what drives our 21st century lives are our careers, our businesses and our path to success i.e. our resume, life becomes a calculated game. In return, our hearts become oblivious to what constitutes our spirit at its very core, the part that we’d rather hear as our eulogy, the part that we’d be remembered for.
How can we build a life that revolves around our human spirit? one that is committed to, in David’s words, “.. Tasks that take more than a lifetime to commit”.
Annette, my maternal grandmother was such a person. One whose work transcends her life on earth and continue to resonate in all the lives she touched.
Annette Weerakkody passed away after a brief illness on April 29, 2015. Her legacy on this earth will be continued by her three children, their spouses and five grandchildren.
Nipuni Siyambalapitiya
****
‘Thiru’
A multifaceted personality
I was choked with grief when I heard on March 22, 2018 the news of the passing away of V. A. Thirugnasuntharam, affectionately known as ‘Thiru’. Efforts made by me to contact his home in Dehiwela, Sri Lanka, from Australia where I presently reside had been futile. S. Gunasekara, Attorney - at - Law and Unofficial Magistrate, a junior of mine was good enough to go to the residence of Thiru and arrange for me to speak to K. Jeyakrishna, Thiru’s nephew over the phone two days later.
There are many facets to the personality of ‘Thiru’. In writing about him it is difficult to decide where to begin. My memory goes back to his place of birth - Karanavai in Karaveddy, Vadamaradchy. I also hail from Karaveddy. He was born on December 1 1937. On his reaching the Biblical age of 70 I recall having written an appreciation on him in the prominent Tamil newspaper Virakesari. December 1, the day he was born was a memorable day for the reason that it was the day of guru pooja of Saint Srinivasan Navalar.
I was telling him in September 2017, in relation to the centenary celebrations of Karaveddy Vigneswara College on October 6, that I was planning to write about him on his 80th birthday. He was pleased to hear this. It so happened that before I could write about him he had passed away resulting in my writing an appreciation of Late Thiru. We had our education up to SSC at Karaveddy Vigneswara College - which produced eminent personalities in all walks of life.
To mention a few Dr. Siva Chinnathamby, Gynaecologist, K. C. Nadarajah, a leading criminal lawyer, former Supreme Court judge of Bermuda and former Attorney General of Nigeria, the late M. Sivasithamparam, criminal lawyer, former deputy speaker of Parliament and the leader of Tamil United Liberation Front. Thiru and I always acknowledged with pleasure that we have risen to this level due to the sound education we had at Vigneswara College.
I cannot recall his period of his education at Vigneswara College, but I can distinctly remember the students from his area - Karanavai walking through the paddy fields and meandering lanes. I was fortunate that I was living in a house, a stone throw from the school. On completion of his secondary education at Vigneswara College, Thiru commenced his working career as a sub - editor of Virakesari newspaper and thereafter worked at Insurance Corporation of SriLanka as a translator and rose to the position of executive officer - personnel. While at the Insurance Corporation he performed varied duties at Radio Ceylon - such as, announcer, program producer, translator, etc. Thereafter he got permanent appointment at Radio Ceylon, and held the posts of Asst. Executive Director and also Director of Tamil Service. Eventually, he became Deputy Director General of SLBC. Patience, persistence and perspiration, together with his pleasing manners and winning ways pushed him high in his working career.
My association with Thiru commenced at the inaugural meeting of Karaveddy Vigneswara College Old Boys’ Association, Colombo Branch on July 5 1992 convened by the then principal of the college, the late K. Sivapathasundram at the Bambalapitiya Flats community centre. I was appointed president of the Association and Thiru was appointed a member of the executive committee. I met Thiru for the first time only at this meeting.
Thereafter he was present regularly at all monthly meetings, resulting in my close association with him. In the year 2000 Thiru was unanimously elected Secretary, as he was an energetic worker. December 24 2000 was a red letter day for all Sri Lankans as Prof K.Sivathamby, an old boy of Karaveddy Vigneswara college was given an award by Tamil Nadu government for his unparalleled scholarly achievements in the field of Tamil studies.The prestigious V. Kalyanasundra Mudaliyar award was given by the TN government for the first time, to a Sri Lankan. Our Colombo branch Association published a book titled ‘Karavaiyootru’ in February 2001 to celebrate the unique achievement of Prof.Sivathamby.Thiru was the publishing editor of this book which contained articles about Sivathamby.The role played by Thiru in publishing the book is commendable.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the OBA Colombo branch (1992 - 2002) we staged a ballet on Ramayanam at the Ramakrishna Mission Hall ,Wellawatta on August 10, 2002.The ballet was produced and staged by Mrs Usha Sittampalanathan,wife of an old student and the executive committee member of our association .We published a book titled ‘ Paththandu Kaalam ‘of which Thiru was the publishing editor. Thiru was also the editor of the booklet titled ‘ Saagaa varam Petra Saantron’ on the late M.Sivasithamparam who passed away on June 5 2002. He was an expert in collecting articles of personalities ranging from political leaders to journalists. Thiru was the publishing editor of another book containing articles about Prof. Sivathamby in the year 2011.This coincided with the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of our Association.Thiru had done a splendid job in this. All these books were published by him without assistance from any one.Thiru’s elder brother V.A.Thirugnanam was also an old student of Karaveddy Vigneswara college and was employed at Radio Ceylon.
He published a book titled ‘ Sivamayam ‘ on February 28 2005 with the sponsorship of our association. His younger brother ,a cartoonist at Radio Ceylon published a book titled ‘Manobalam’ in memory of the younger brother.Thiru was collecting articles about his contributions to the media from prominent personalities with the intention of publishing a book.
He couldn’t fulfil his ambition due to his failing health. Thiru has been the pivotal driving force in relation to the activities of our Association of which he had been the Secretary for seventeen years and I was President for a continuous period of 25 years.He has been a tower of strength to me.He had a good command of English and Tamil, and was also proficient in Sinhala. The late Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle wanted me to recommend a suitable person to teach him Tamil.
Thiru was detailed by me to do this job. The Minister was very pleased and appointed Thiru as Public Relations Officer in his Ministry. Thiru lived a simple and humble life. He lived for each day and seldom worried about the next day. He illuminated any and every task with unique organizing ability and with dedication.
I am wandering in my memory lane. This is not an analytical assessment of the man but only an account of my long relationship with him as it strikes my mind. I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to members of his grieving family .May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
V.Vimalarajah
Attorney-at-Law, President Karaveddy Vigneswara College OBA, Colombo Branch.
Sydney