She is not here to wish her a happy b’day like I did every year

She may not be my sister. She may not be related to me by blood, but when this beautiful young girl married our nephew, Sunil, in August 1971, she became our niece and part of our family. Since then and up to her departure, she really lived as one of us.

She was there when her husband needed her. She was beside him in all his activities and travels, both local and overseas. She was the strength behind his Lionism and behind the lives of the two children they brought into this world — Kanchana and Malsha. She looked after helpless uncles and relativessaw to their needs. She always was brave enough to appear for the sake of the family when they needed her support. Her home was open to friends and relatives alike. She never failed to serve a meal at any time of day.

She braved and battled a “war” and ultimately fell, as a fearless, gentle giant. Whenever I spoke to her over the phone, which I did quite often, from thousands of miles away, in Auckland New Zealand, I heard a happy “Hello Nenda”, and this still rings in my ears. Every year I call on her birthday--June 23 to wish her, but this year she is not around.

We all miss her. May she attain Nibbana.