She transmitted her joy of life to others
It’s almost three months since the sudden death of Areenie Ratwatte Pethiyagoda but those who knew her haven’t yet reconciled themselves to the fact she is no more. Her husband Dilip Pethiyagoda and her sister Lilamani Sirimanne and family mourn her deeply.
Areenie Upendra Ratwatte was the younger daughter of A.C.L. Ratwatte, one-time Mayor of Kandy and then High Commissioner for Ceylon/Sri Lanka in Ghana and subsequently in Malaysia. Areenie and Lilamani schooled at the Good Shepherd Convent, Kandy, and then moved to Mahamaya College, co-founded by an ancestor – Chitravo Ratwatte. Areenie took to teaching in Ghana having undergone teacher training in Accra.
Returning to Sri Lanka from Malaysia, she joined the teaching faculty of Trinity College Kandy Kindergarten. After marriage too she continued teaching at TCK and much later at Gateway International School and CIS Kandy, counting 40 years with school kids. She was particularly loved at Trinity; not surprising being very pretty, youthful and lively. Many were those holding high posts in the public and private sectors she had cared for as very young KG children who recognised her and expressed gratitude. Dilip said that when they stayed over in a local hotel there would invariably be a Trinitian among the staff and hence a warmer welcome and special service.
Areenie and Dilip settled down to married life in Areenie’s parental home along the scenic Cuda Ratwatte Mawatha between Kandy and Katugastota. They lived a full, truly happy life of perfect companionship, sharing a love of travel which they indulged in, visiting many countries and travelling around Sri Lanka. They were also film buffs and avid readers. Areenie was a member of a foreign ladies’ book club in Kandy and then formed her own club where women would meet often to informally discuss books they had read and lend each other newly bought books.
She made a name for herself in the art of Ikebana exhibiting both in Kandy and Colombo. She was also interested in needlecraft. She was keen on social service and thus the service given the community as a member of the Inner Wheel Club of Kandy, which she served as President for a period of time.
Areenie was beautiful with a perfect complexion. But her beauty was definitely more than skin deep; much deeper. Her bubbly, happy personality shone through and anyone who met her felt she was good to be with. There was immense humanity in her, never even a trace of the negative. She was happy with herself and happy with others. We relatives would tell each other: “Yes, Dilip and Areenie visited and they laughed the roof down.” Such was their joy in life complemented by their strong togetherness.
The news of her passing away was a shock to many. Areenie had been ill for a short while with heart trouble. She underwent a successful surgery in Singapore and was at home returning to normal routines rapidly. A fortnight after surgery, on January 3, she celebrated her birthday with a special breakfast attended by her nephew and grand niece. Her sister missed this birthday, being overseas. That evening she had another party with a few people where she joyfully cut and shared her birthday cake. Early next morning Dilip found her ill and transferred her promptly to the Kandy General Hospital, where she passed away the same day.
We mourn Areenie’s death as it came too soon to her, leaving her husband and family members devastated. We say goodbye lovely Areenie with sadness, but with appreciation to her for showing us how a woman could live happy and give of herself to others. The tapestries and flower arrangements she created spread beauty and also transmitted her joy in life.