Thank you for being our biggest fan, nightingale, guru and best friend
The morning light comes stealing - To start a new day
Out there the world is waiting - To take you far away
We thank God every day for blessing us with you as our amazing mum. We will always wish for one more hug, one more laugh, above all for one more day! With your last breath the world around us has tumbled with no one to call mum.
Daughter of the late Dorothy and Artie Peiris of Moratuwa, a descendant of the late C.H. de Soysa, and wife of Sherad, as a mother to a dozen, mother-in-law to nine grandchildren and great grand mum to 21 you embedded your footprint effortlessly with grace.
Your love and courage changed our lives; during challenging times you stood by us like the rock of Gibraltar. You were meticulous in household chores, our best chef, and seamstress. You laboured night and day to make new dresses for each daughter, especially to wear for midnight mass on Christmas day. You were so proud to see us wearing your creations but we in return started comparing and whined when we should have praised your tireless efforts and hugged you. Mum, you brushed it aside saying that’s part and parcel of growing up, and we soon learnt this lesson when we became mums.
When Anne was sick you called us and said “manage the household chores as my priority is being with my sick child”. You were with her in hospital for nine months. All that you taught us enabled us to carry on with Dad captaining the ship. You sacrificed so much to put her back to good health but God had other plans. As a mother, witnessing the loss of her child must have been terrible, but you remained resilient. We are sure with her parting, a part of your world would have collapsed and since then at every family function you would have shed a silent tear; however, you showed us a brave face.
When Dad passed away three decades ago there were so many incomplete tasks thrust upon you and only God knows the inner strength you had to complete them. Your strength and smile even on darkest days made us realize that you were the impenetrable support system protecting and guiding us.
For you, the precious gift was your dozen and the extended family. You loved us immensely and your happiness was to be surrounded by us reminiscing about the pranks we did during our childhood.
God said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest “but I am sure mum, you did not want to leave your special child – Naomi; you held on tight until all your strength was gone, but finally you slipped away quietly. We promise you mum we will take care of her as you did and we are sure you will look down upon her from heaven and be her newest guardian angel from now on.
As you take your last journey which is our toughest walk we thank you dear Lord for this gorgeous gift wrapped with grace, love, patience, compassion, humbleness that was handed over to us. Thank you mum for being our biggest fan, nightingale, guru and best friend. We miss you but assure you that we will carry on with your memories forever until we meet in that land where there is no parting. Until then goodbye and rest in peace!Love you loads!
Your dozen