A multi-faceted man
Perera, an undergraduate at the University of Peradeniya at the time, my grandfather’s greatest inspiration. They were subsequently married in January 1960, and were the proud parents of Deepa Wijetunge (nee Fernando) and Sajit Fernando.
Jayaindra was a man of many talents; he was an artist, with the ability to design jewellery and produce beautiful drawings of trees endemic to Sri Lanka. He was also a very talented cook; I still recall vivid memories of how we would all gather in his kitchen every Friday after school, to assist him with his latest Chinese culinary dishes. However this did not include cleaning up thereafter, a task which always fell to my grandmother. A great lover of good food, he would always take the whole family to any new restaurant that opened in Colombo, attempting to improve and recreate the dish he had subsequently.
He was always generous with his family and friends equally, lending a helping hand in any crisis, with any form of help needed. He was a dutiful son to his parents, as well as a pillar of strength of all his siblings.
My grandfather was a pious Buddhist, and I am always proud of see tables donat- ed by him and built by Rovim Concrete Works Ltd. (where he was Chairman) at various temples throughout Sri Lanka. He was true follower of the Dhamma.
Seeya, I feel truly blessed to have been able to spend 29 years of my life with you, and I hope I will always remember and follow the principles of life you taught me. I feel privileged to have learnt our family history from you, and will always cherish the many chats we had over all those years. I miss you every day! Until we meet again in Sansara. “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”-Thomas Campbell Janani Wijetunge Palihakkara (Grand-daughter)
Joy Gnanadurai answered her call on 30.11.2017.She was born on 16.7.1946 to James Ratnam Williams Jayaratnam and Joyce Jeyamani Chelliah. Joy was a student of Chundikuli Girls’ College Jaffna. Her passion for music started early during her school days. She was quick to get through all the music exams of Trinity College of Music, which was the only foreign exam for western music at that time in Jaffna.
Soon she joined her school and church choir. Due to her ability and experience in this field, she became the choir leader and started conducting choral festivals in Jaffna. Her family was all musicians and it was a treat to watch them ‘harmonize’in singing during family functions.
Joy married Richard Gnanadurai on 20.9.1975. They were blessed with a son Dhilan, who carried the baton from his mother and is now a musician in UK, training opera singers, church choirs and also conducting music classes.
After the war in 1990, the family moved to Colombo. Joy continued her career in music, teaching music, conducting choirs as well as being a church organist for Holy Trinity Church Wellawatte, St Paul’s Church Milagiriya and a few other churches in Colombo. Whenever she was requested to play for special functions, she always readily obliged and said “It was for the Glory of God”. My children were sent to Joy for their music lessons. I can proudly say that one of my children won the All Island Prize at the Trinity College of Music examination, all due to Joy’s untiring efforts. She took pride in her profession and was a teacher “par excellence”. I had no choice but to send my grandchild also to Joy for piano lessons.
Some of her brothers –Dr. Joe, Fredrick and Festus have already passed on. She leaves behind her husband Richie, son Dilan, daughter-in-law Sabeena and siblings,Gerald, Anton,Dharman ,Grace,Yoges and Ruby. Joy must be now singing ’It is well with my soul’ with the Lord. May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Chelvam Ariaratnam