To our queen mum

Amma Dearest – you were our queen mum!

It is said death ends a life not a relationship.

You had a very staid upbringing with a convent education in Colombo and public school in England.

Later on while reading for your degree at the Peradeniya campus your heart was captured by that dashing prosecutor. Both of you hailing from the sunny golden shores of the south found romance in the cool of the green hills.

Out of this holy alliance you bore two children. Even if I may say so, two stunning assets. Modesty they say is unbecoming at a time like this.

You handled life’s challenges with serenity. Trials and tribulations you never took seriously. You knew they were transitory. You shared Kipling’s view that success was a mere impostor!

Your balanced approach to life gave you the ability to enjoy life the way you wanted.

Never did you refuse anybody in need. You were never a taker but a giver. Over the years the charitable handouts I witnessed you giving were immeasurable. I am told the first cheque signed by you was a donation to Lanka Mahila Samithi. However you were extremely private about it.

You led a good life. I am told you were the cynosure of your contemporaries when driving around in your swanky red

M.G. Your spell in the travel trade earned you many accolades locally and internationally from counterparts.

At work your secretary told me you had never raised your voice to her. You were very accessible to all employees of Monaro and ready to sort out a pro- tem at anytime. Your desk was always neat and tidy and you never passed the buck.

You cut a fine figure walking into a party or a more solemn occasion with equal dignity. Glamour and style - you did not clamour for. They came naturally to you.

Your love and passion for animals put you in the role of a hockey Mum! Some of them you bred. You got your thrills and spills when your horses sprinted to victory or dropped dead while on course. You enjoyed riding them in your younger days. Lately your little pet poodle winning at the dog shows put you in a champagne drinking mood. They were nurtured by you with absolute tenderness.

As a friend you cherished friendships and the consensus is that your beauty was honesty. As a hostess you made any guest feel royal.

As a Mother you taught us life was the greatest test of endurance!

You put your artistic flair to good use during the time Sri Lanka had a closed economy. I remember organising our birthday parties was a challenge. You had to hunt for white sugar and wheat flour. I have memories of you calling around going into every nook and cranny in search of these. Once the challenge was overcome you produced the most beautiful cakes. My friends still remember the individually painted birthday cards and the attractive packages of takeaway gifts which were extremely novel.

You were empowered which made you a great lady.

Asjitha your grandson when learning of your death said “Amma you must step into her shoes which may be too large but I will help you fill them in a small way.”

You were always there for your cousins, nieces and nephews, having their best interests at heart.

Your demise was handled by one of the deadliest assassins of modern times.

Amma dearest, I shall not cry because it is over but smile because it happened.

Today we celebrate your life and ask St. Peter to open the pearly gates wide so that God welcomes his dear child who leaves us with no regrets into His kingdom which is eternal. (Eulogy delivered by Santhosh De Zoysa at the requiem for Santha De Zoysa)