Memories of your loving and special gestures

It is hard to believe that it’s nearly five months since Aunty Sumana passed away on May 28.

She possessed a special love for me and I considered her as my ‘Loku Amma’, as my mother didn’t have any sisters.

Aunty Sumana was born in Panadura on December 12, 1928. She was the eldest in her family and had three younger brothers.

She married Uncle Chandra (late D. V. C. Silva) and was blessed with three daughters, Kamalini, Nimalka and Dushyanthi. Kamalini and Nimalka are presently living in Australia. Dushyanthi and her husband Ranjan looked after aunty well until her end and she was a loving and a caring mother to them.

After passing out from the University of Colombo, she began teaching at Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa and was later transferred to Prince of Wales College from where she retired in 1983. She was a great disciplinarian and helped many children in their education. Even at her advanced age, she gave tuition to children.

To me she was a very loving aunt who never missed my birthday and sent me many useful and valuable gifts which I still use. Whenever she went to visit her brother in London, she would bring very expensive gifts for me. I still remember once she went all the way to Wellawatte in a taxi to buy a beautiful Kanchipuram saree for my birthday.

She gifted me all her cookery items and recipe books as well as her “Woman & Home” magazines, a valuable collection from her young days.

She was kind to all her neighbours going out of her way to help them in numerous ways.

Dearest aunty, you are no more, but you will remain in my mind forever.

Thank you for all that you have done for me.

May your soul rest in peace. Trishanthi Peiris Fernando