A Final Farewell To My Akka

While I had the oppotunity to convey condolence messages on the passing of close family members recently, writing about Akka who played many roles in my life is especially difficult.

Akka is not just my older sister, but she was also my mother. Following the death of my own mother at the age of 12, I went to live with Akka, Pius Athan, and her children. From that time onwards, with few short years apart, we have always been together as part of a single family unit. Akka nurtured me in my early years, helped me raise my childeren, and all through the years in Sri Lanka and here in Canada we were there for each other, through many, many happy events, milestone birthdays but also through the tragic loss of her youngest daughter Caroline in 1992. More lately, our roles reversed, but she remained in charge. These happy and sad events, knitted our familes together.

To my children, Sebastian and Eliza, she was not just their aunt but their dear Amma. She supported them whatever their mischief and for them in turn Amma could do no wrong. Perhaps some of the happiest time for Akka was the birth of her grandchildren, Ethan and Reya. While she spoiled them as most doting grandmas do, she was also on top of their important dates on school calendars, homework assignments, school trips etc. A proud grandmother to them, my childeren and children of friends and family. She had this unique capacity to love and be loved by all, but especially the young children, they related to her and she related to them, because she was always young at heart.

Akka was especially blessed with her two children, there is really no comparison to how she was endearingly cared for by both Chrishanthan and Shiromi and her son-in-law Vijay. She was proud of each of them in particular ways. Akka was always the life of every family party of our family here in Canada, she loved it. Her milestone birthdays were truly spectacular, her children and otheres spared nothing to celebrate her. Shiromi's talents as an event coordinater was put to good use.

Following her retirement, and even after her two knee replacement replacement surgeries, she stayed active swimming 5 to 6 days a week, come rain, snow or ice. It was on the way to her swim class in mid February 2019 that she fell and broke fer femur, restricting her mobility and zest for life year by year.

We will continue to celebrate her life and remember her with fondest of memories. She was truly unique, and while we can try to emulate her, she cannot be replicated. We will all miss you very much Akka. At this moment, we don't even know how much the pain of your loss that will soon hit us. Please help to guide us to be the same family unit. We were an even 10 at gatherings, although we are 9 now, there will be a spot for you in spirit at the head of the table, as always.