Eulogy for Ammachi
(Read like a conversation)
Good morning, everyone, and thank you all for being here.
Today, I have the great honor of speaking about someone who meant the world to all of
us—my grandmother, whom we all lovingly called Ammachi.
Ammachi’s life was a story of strength, grace, and deep love. She was born in Singapore,
and during the turmoil of World War II, she had to leave her home and make the long,
difficult journey to Mumbai. Along the way, she faced heartbreaking loss—losing most
of her family members. But even in the face of sorrow, she never gave in to despair. She
pressed on, with a quiet strength that would shape the rest of her life.
It was in Mumbai where she met my grandfather. They got married in Kuwait, and raised
three boys—my two uncles, Jake, and Sam; and my father, Philip—and I’ve heard many
stories about how much energy and patience that required! She managed bringing them
up, and she was devoted and hardworking—doing everything she could to keep things
together, to hold the family strong through all seasons of life.
She expressed her love in simple and meaningful ways—her favorite was food. Her
kitchen was always full of warmth, smells, and flavors that brought us all together. She
loved feeding us, not just to satisfy hunger, but to bring comfort and to show love.
And then came my little brother Joshua. Sometimes it was so funny—Joshua would be
talking on and on about something only he understood, and Ammachi would just nod and
listen with this sweet smile on her face. She loved him for who he is.
She was known to have a very kind and gentle soul. The first thing she told my mother
when they met face to face was not “hi” or “hello,” instead, with a smile, she said to
Mama, “I have waited a long time to meet the woman Philip would marry.” And with that
started a new mother-daughter relationship.
Her love extended beyond just her children and grandchildren. Aunty Shriya recently
shared something truly heartfelt:
“I know I married your baby boy, and all you ever wanted was to be there for him. I am
so glad I got to meet you and spend a good portion of my life with you. You were more
than just a mother-in-law, you were there for me as a mother and support. There are so
many things I wish I could say to you, so much time I wish I could have back, but that is
not how life works. Thank you for loving Loretta. Your grace and love will never be
forgotten. The prayers you have prayed over us have blessed us so much. I know now
that you are no longer here, but I have the hope of seeing you again. You have gone
ahead and are now in the presence of our Heavenly Father. As Proverbs 31:30 says,
‘Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be
praised.’” — Aunty Shriya
More than anything, Ammachi was a woman of deep and abiding faith. She prayed
constantly—for each of us, and with each of us. Her words were always full of hope and
encouragement. Whenever we were troubled, she would gently remind us, “Take your
troubles to the Lord Jesus.” That was her way, and she lived by it every single day. Her
strength came from that faith, and it’s something she passed down to us.
Ammachi also faced one of life’s hardest battles—cancer. But in true Ammachi fashion,
she faced it with courage and calm. She fought through it with dignity and survived,
never letting it change the kindness in her spirit or the peace in her heart.
She was a survivor. A quiet anchor. A woman whose love reached every corner of our
family.
And as my little brother Joshua—her youngest grandson—so sweetly said the other day:
“Ammachi has gone to heaven.” And I believe that with all my heart. She is with the
Lord she trusted all her life, and I know she is at peace.
Ammachi, thank you—for your love, your prayers, your strength, your stories, and your
gentle spirit. We will carry you with us, always.
We love you. We miss you. And we thank God for the beautiful gift of you.
Before I close, I want to share two reflections from members of Ammachi’s Calgary
prayer group.
“My name is Varughese Kurien. I am filled with a mixture of sadness and gratitude as I
write this. Sadness for the loss of a person, whom we lovingly called Thangamma Aunty
and gratitude for the fellowship with a sweet person, who was a member in our Senior's
Prayer Fellowship in Calgary. I have fond memories of Thangamma Aunty. I will always
remember her gentle and loving nature. She had a childlike trust in the Lord and love for
others. I'm grateful for the time we shared together in the prayer group. ‘When someone
you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure’ is true for her. We miss
you, Thangamma, Aunty. Bye until we meet again.”
This is the other testimony given:
“We got to know Thangamma aunty as part of a Seniors prayer fellowship, which I had
the opportunity to co-host with Mr. Kurian Varghese. She was a gentle person, of few
words, who made everyone comfortable with her gentle smile. Her prayers were always
from the heart, and she loved the Word of God, especially the Psalms. Later she also
became a part of our church True Light Fellowship & Church Calgary and became a part
of us instantly. She became a mom and grandma to all of us and was deeply loved by all
of us. When life took her to Bangalore, we were heart broken, and the last gathering we
had at the Church with aunty was a tear-filled farewell. It was our desire to visit her at the
retirement residence in Bangalore next year, which will not happen now. But we rejoice,
knowing that we will be able to meet her at the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. Thangamma aunty embodied the promise of God in Mathew 5:3 "Blessed are the
poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."