When I learned that my beloved friend "Aunty" had passed away, the first reaction was an immense sense of loss and in its wake a sense of guilt for not having gone to see her the day before when I was told her health was deteriorating. I did not for one moment think that the end was so near.

I have known death from an early age and the passing of an aged relative or friend does not move me to tears. But this was different for in her passing I had lost some one, who with the rest of her family, stood by me when I faced life’s tragedies. This was a loss of a true friend.

Her home, whether it be at Queen’s Road, Skeltion Road, Havelock Road or Torrigtion Avenue were places where her children’s friends found warmth and were always welcome. I remember Umesh’s friends Saba, Dharman and Thomas received with the same warmth as Roshi’s friends Malkanthi, Tikiri and Sarojini. But we were the special lot — Nilanthi, Kamani and I who found a home away from home at aunty’s house. We would barge into her room, sleep on her bed, raid the fridge and literally park ourselves there, as and when we likes.

This was her speciality - her warmth. All her children have inherited this quality and they continue to open their homes and hearts to friends in a day and age where "each man’s for himself". The many, who came to pay their respects to this fine lady did so, I believe, as much as to remember the times that were as to offer their condolences to Umesh and Sharmali, Roshini and Gamini and Devika and Hemanatha.

She was a lady who took equal pride in the achievements of her much loved nieces and nephews and their children as she did of her own. Aunty would recall her life before I met her and the grand lives of her sisters and brothers-in-low. Each would be remembered by her for what they meant to society and to her. Each act of kindness by anyone of them would be remembered and cherished. When I became her friend and confidante, she shares all her joys and sorrows with me. Though I was her youngest daughters friend, we found in each other a companionship where age did not matter.

Her life was one she devoted to her children and they in turn loved and honoured her. When it was no longer necessary to run house she moved in with Umesh and Sharmali and spent the eighties there, with her beloved nieces in close proximity. The nineties were mostly spent at Roshi’s and Gamini’s, when Devika was away in Australia. The last days of her life she spent with Devika and Hemantha and there she received all the care and comfort until the final moment.

In all three homes she was equally loved and cherished and she was also blessed with nieces and nephews who had the same warmth which I believe is unique to the Kodagoda-Wijesuriya combination of genes.

My apologies to the many other nieces and nephews and their families of whom aunty was equally fond of, that I have not mentioned. The Kruppu’s the Jaysinghe’s among others played an important role in this much loved lady’s life.

Long after death, the fragrance of her life will live on and she will always be remembered by those who loved her.
Vijayaluxmi.