She dedicated her life to serving others
Fidelia de Silva was the eldest in our family of eleven, born to Felix David Lionel de Alwis and Hilda de Alwis on April 10, 1921.
She was the formidable spirit in our family. She schooled at Methodist College, Colombo and passed the senior matriculation with hopes of being qualified as an academic, however as in the social climate of that era our father had other plans for her. And she complied with his requests without question.
I recall with nostalgia the period that she was engaged to the late Capt. Joseph Jaywardena. His visits to our house were frequent and the sound of music and laughter would fill every corner of our house, down Walukarama Road.
When she married Joseph, I was the page boy,
Their life together had just begun. However what should have been a full and happy life together was not to be, as her husband fell ill within a short period of three months. He was misdiagnosed and died due to a medical misadventure.
She was with child at this period and her beautiful daughter Hemanthi was born on December 20. It was at this juncture she moved to live with my brother Denzil, who was a planter at that time, but he too passed away due to typhoid.
My sister decided to move back to our ancestral home in Galle in the village of Kalahe on Rockhill Estate. Hemakanthi schooled at Southlands College, Galle excelling in her studies. However at the tender age of 12 years Hemakanthi was diagnosed with blood cancer and she passed away within a short period of time.
My sister Fidelia was devastated by her continued loss of kith and kin. In her misery, she immersed herself in voluntary work with the YWCA of Colombo surviving on her widowed pensioner’s salary. It was at this period that she encountered her future mother-in-law, who approached her with a proposal to meet her son. The stars were aligned and they eventually married and she became Mrs. Douglas de Silva. They were a happy couple, who were subsequently blessed with two sons Dilhan and Harin.
Her past had taught her many lessons and she understood the blessings that God had given her and she dedicated her life to serve the Lord. She engaged in social service with the YWCA at Rotunda Gardens and it was the beginning of a lifelong journey that developed her passion to help the poor and the needy. Her effort to develop the institute she served was achieved through her untiring efforts and work with donor nations like the Netherlands. It was during her tenure of office that she created opportunities for hostellers, guests and a very active restaurant which catered even to the public.
Fidelia was to me and the rest of the family a teacher, adviser and guide along with our sister Viola and our late brother Chandra. She not only played the role of a teacher in our family, she was also a teacher at Richmond College.
The tsunami in 2004, touched a nerve with my sister, as the most affected town was our hometown - Galle. She then took it upon herself to work for the needs of the children who had been rendered orphans. She built two homes from the donations received from Sri Lanka and abroad.
After the death of her husband she continued to live at Bagatalle Road, in a house provided by her late husband Duggie with the best of facilities provided under the supervision of her sons Dilhan and Harindra.
With her health deteriorating she was moved to an apartment at Nawaloka Hospital which was well equipped to accommodate elderly persons.
We visited her regularly and she was fortunate in having regular communion given to her by the Methodist priests.
Sister, all your siblings, children, extended family, cousins, relations and faithful friends will never fail to remember your Christian ways and the exemplary life you led.