November 20, 2018 · Medium

Eulogy from a Grandson

(posting on behalf of my brother — Mathew aka Siby)

with Monu (Joseph), Annu and Anto

Dear Mumma,

I know that you are listening to us and we would like to thank you for gracing us with “beautiful memories”. We all stand her in the presence of the Lord and in remembrance of you to celebrate your Life.

As Kids our summer vacations began with jumping on that grand robust spring bed breaking other things along the way and yet you held us tight protecting us from “Mona Aunty” and her wooden stick as we created havoc in the neighborhood.

Monu, you always cleverly evaded the dangers by locking yourself in the toilet while Mumma shielded us from angry neighbors even though she knew we were wrong. Roby, I distinctly remember Dad hitting you with a belt and Mumma came in the way and took your share in order to protect you. Mumma you have always protected us from any harm along our way and the reason why we chose to be here today in your loving presence. You nourished us with warm home cooked lunches for all 12 years of our School Life with dabbas that got to us in time each and every time without skipping even a single day even on days when you were sick. Shibin, I hope you remember that she always knew that you would join us so she always packed a little extra so that we could all fill our hungry tummies.

Mumma, you taught us what it is to Love, Share and Be Fair (by allowing Roby to have the biggest share since he was the eldest amongst us grandkids) and most of all to fend for ourselves and be strong.

Roby, yet again I hope you remember about the instance when you were bullied at the grocery store and she held your hand and took you to the bully and dealt with the bully teaching us not to fear and to run our own races and fight our own battles.

Annu, My darling sister I am sure that this is your biggest personal loss and I can only say one thing that Mumma will be watching over you like she did her entire life and remember one thing if you ever slack in your life in her words “You will get Zero, A big Undaa and then you, her and everyone in the family will have to eat that big Egg”. So Buck up and be Strong and Celebrate her Life

What I remember most Annu is you dancing as a child on that iconic spring bed with a dupatta wrapped around you to “Chunari Chunari” and Mumma clapping in unison with your dance steps. Annu, you never let Mumma ever feel lonely by your presence and Mumma would relive her childrens childhood through your growing up in her care. Looking at you Annu we all agree that say that Mumma gave you to Love of both “Mom” and “Dad” and for that we can all crown her as our “Super-GrandMom” no less than any Super Hero we ever watched on Television.

Mom, Helen Aunty and Chinnu Aunty, please dont be jealous of Annu while I say this as ou always complained about Mumma giving her the move Love, the Love that Annu truly deserved. The only Grand Daughter she ever had. I only brought this up because all of you collectively said that Mumma always wanted a son and she would only love him the most. You are so wrong in saying this as Mumma right in your presence demonstrated that she loved her grand daughter the most and for that we are proud “Mumma”. Your Life was a true example of dedication, Love, Discipline, Equality, Strength, Consistency and Perseverance.

Mom, I know that you cared for her tirelessly and so have you Helen Aunty and Chinnu Aunty. Thank you for getting us to spend as much time with a great Grandmother whose memories and Live with us and our generations to come.

Mumma and her 3 Lovely Birds (wooden birds that hung on the wall on her bedroom wall) have always been close to her heart. She gave herself tirelessly to ensure your children understood Life better and gave us values that no one else could.

All 3 of you understand that Mumma has loved you more than anyone and she will grace your lives with her blessings. You have all been caring and loving and she is smiling on all of you from above.

So RISE up, SHINE and be Proud of having a mom like Mumma — A Mom who taught you how to dedicate your life in such a noble profession of Teaching. She taught you by her own example of going to the villages to give the worlds under privileged an education. An Education, which is their right of every child. She taught you to be charitable not just to your own families but to reach out and be there to spread the gift of education to one and all all this while teaching a “Birdie Birdie” rhyme. We salute you Mumma for this especially as we can only imagine the challenges, odds and opposition you had while teaching and establishing an English Medium school in the remote villages of India (NarayanGaon).

Anto, even though you spend more of your time in Mumbai, Mumma always referred to you as her “Tall Grandchild” and was always proud of you and told us how you were doing while you were away and never excluded your in all the times we got together as grand children of hers.

Mumma, ever since I learned that you passed away I havent been able to accept this has happened and was not even able to cut my finger nails. This is because I always remember you carefully holding my fingers and trimming my nails and I think of you everytime I still reach for the nail cutter. I will continue drinking that red rasberry drink thinking of the amount of “Frams” we have had as your grandchildren. That red rasberry soda has always been my first preference since childhood, Maybe I did not get a chance of telling you this.

Roby — Today is Tuesday and I’m sure Mumma is looking at all of us today as she has well planned this day so that we could all be with her today on our favorite day of the week and a visit to St Anthony’s

We will all MISS you MUMMA, more than you will ever know.

May your Soul REST IN PEACE.

LOVE YOU.

Your Loving Grandson#2,

Siby

Date: 20 — November — 2018

Place : In the clouds on a Flight from Melbourne to Pune as i seem closest to you.

With all the MurdaGada’s and other choicest words you bestowed upon us, especially Annu.