Aunty Maurine, my father’s older sister was born 100 years ago on February 24, 1923. At the age of 54, she passed away on February 17, 1977 after a sudden Cardiac Arrest. It was a shock and an irreparable loss for the young family to come to terms with their energetic and vibrant mother/wife who had gone to be with the Lord prematurely for eternal rest.
Not only was it a shock to her immediate family, every other family who knew Maurine went into mourning in the days that followed. Adding to the grief and anguish was when her only son Rohith, the apple of her eye, who was en-flight from Cairo was left stranded in Bombay unable to attend his mother’s funeral.
Maurine was the second daughter of the Late Dr. Sir Frank and Lady Margaret Gunesekera of “Parimalapthy” No.143, Campbell Place, Borella. Though she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she never lost the common touch of the ordinary and the poor.
Aunty Maurine had a heart of gold and would stretch her arms to help anyone who needed assistance. She would welcome even a stranger at her home with open arms and make them feel comfortable by always providing a warm, friendly environment.
She was known to be hospitable and had a nature of goodwill. She was a homemaker, devoted to the family who put the needs and happiness of her loved ones before her, and had equally strong connections to others outside the family. Friends and relations still, after many years of her passing, talk of her thoughtful deeds and actions with a sense of admiration.
She attended CMS Ladies College and was the Head Girl during the late thirties. She was a leading cellist in the school choir. Being an active old girl, she contributed relentlessly with a deep sense of love and passion for her school where she wholeheartedly was involved in running the school tuck-shop for many years and took pride of place at school carnivals with her awesome and much talked of food stalls.
Her involvement with school activities never ceased during her lifetime. One would be sure to have seen Maurine at CMS Carnivals, Sports Meets and other events if you had happened to be there during that time. She put into good use her God given skills, talents and abilities to help many organisations.
She played a prominent role in the Methodist Church, initially Maradana and subsequently Wellawatte Methodist Church where she last worshiped. Being a Church Leader at Wellawatte, she took a lead role in setting up the Wellawatte Action League which provided meals to the poor and needy.
She was instrumental in organising main church events including the Choir where she was a chorister. She loved and enjoyed singing as a member of the choir. She was a popular figure in church and knew how to win the hearts of others and to love and to be loved by all.
Maurine was a tennis player. She met her lifelong partner, the late Edward Fernando at the tennis court in the YWCA at Union Place which was “love at first sight’. Her father was the personal physician and friend to Ceylon’s first Prime Minister, the late D.S. Senanayake. Though her family members did not approve of her marriage, they had a successful and happy union with their four children: eldest son, Rohith followed by three daughters, Dharshani, Enoka and Ashika.
She had a very established catering business by the name of “Edward and Rohith Caterers” and Maurine was the Proprietress. She undertook catering services for weddings, birthdays, business and private functions.
She was famous for her catering and made a name for her catering abilities. As I recall, she made my birthday cakes each year in my childhood ranging from airplanes, ships and nursery cartoons.
I have very happy memories of family trips, cricket matches, get-togethers organised by her, where she treated us often with her famous lamprais and delicious desserts.
I met my lifelong partner at aunty Maurine’s funeral when I set eyes for the first time on Aloma, a classmate of my cousin, Enoka. Similarly, it was a coincidence when there was yet another enduring love story between two other beautiful people, a Merchant Ship Engineer and a friend of the family, who also set eyes on each other for the first time. Both love stories continue happily ever after.
‘Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion’
– Nalin Gunesekera
Colombo 5