She gave her best as wife, mother and friend
Lalitha de Alwis was born on January 10, 1932 and called to rest on September 24, 2019 after a brief illness resulting from a mild stroke, and a fall at home. Lalitha and her husband were blessed with six children namely Mario, Sriyan, Lalith, Chara, Nirmalee and Shanez along with many grand children who were very fond of them. They had a wonderful family life with their very generous and compassionate attitude to others.
Lalitha always ensured she gave her best as a wife and mother. She was a person who displayed a great sense of love and caring to her own children, grandchildren, relatives and friends or even to domestics. She never expected gratitude - it was a service as a good Catholic.
I recall her involvement with Aubrey in the Family Services Institute which was a movement initiated by late Rev Fr Mervyn Fernando along with my late sister Viola and her husband Bede De Silva and Mr and Mrs Lord. In fact as soon as Damayanthie and I married we attended one of their weekend seminars conducted at Ragama where Catholic couples were given an intensive training in ensuring a loving marriage. They were an exemplary couple.
Lalitha being a past pupil of Holy Family Convent was actively involved in the Welfare Association of the school and she ensured that my mother-in-law who was also a past pupil was included in the committee as a treasurer.
Lalithi and Aubrey were so concerned about their friends and relations and I recall they were the first to visit me in the General Hospital after I met with a motorcycle accident in 1982. Such was their attitude to life. They were a rare combination. In fact my wife Damayanthie always recalls how they helped their family in 1969 when they lost their father after a sudden heart attack in Galle.
Their house was full of entertainment despite their hands being full with six children. Lalitha and Aubrey had an open house at the year end with a sumptuous dinner after Christmas Midnight Mass; their house was full with family, relations and friends. I believe it was the noisiest house in the neighbourhood, full of action and perpetual parties.
Her strength and ability to manage the house all alone was tested when Aubrey fell ill after a stroke. Perhaps her religious belief and the support she received from her children were pillars of strength. She fervently believed in that saying “kindess is the oil that takes the friction out of life”. After the death of Aubrey which was a contributory factor to her illness, she still entertained friends and relations and never failed to attend church until she had Parkinsons.
She indeed was a perfect wife and mother, an example to all her children, in-laws, nephews and nieces and grandchildren. Perhaps she exemplified the saying ‘train up the children the way you should go, but be sure that you go that way yourself ”.
We all need to emulate the life Lalitha led. May she rest in peace.
Nihal de Alwis