The Final Farewell

It's been a hectic 2 days from Trichy to Coimbatore and on to Bhavani. Amma's ashes have been caste off into the holy waters of India. The ceremony was by the river Bhavani and the urn carrying her ashes was released into the water by Dharan. SD, Davinia and Shobah had to ride a 'coracle' a short distance away and release her. Have we finally let her go? 

Final Journey

Amma will be embarking on her final journey tomorrow. She is all packed and ready to go. Jeyanthi always wanted to take her to India and pestered her many times but she never agreed. I wonder if she is excited to go now? Ready or not you will be on the flight at 7:40 am amma.

Watch this space for pictures of her pilgrimage. 

Is there life after death?

Losing someone dear makes you think about what life after death might be like. Jeyanthi shared the story of this woman who was aware of what was happening to her while in a coma and when she woke up she had cured herself of cancer!

People have talked about seeing God and being led into this beautiful garden where everything is perfect and you are safe in god's arms.

Is any of this true? 

Are we actually reunited with our loved ones? I suppose we will never know the answer. Maybe someday. But we can always dream that that is what happens.

Could it be that Appa and Amma are reunited and as SD said catching up on lost time? I wish with all my heart that this is true. 

http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/spiritualresearch/spiritualscience/afterdeath

Amma wherever you are.......

When I'm gone

Release me let me go
I have so many things to see and do.                                    

You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears,
Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love and you can only guess,
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown,
But now it's time I travelled on alone.

So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must
then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It's only for awhile that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away, for life goes on,
So, if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near,
and if you listen with your heart,
you'll hear all my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and say, welcome home.

I'm not too sure who the poet is but it is such a beautiful poem that I had to share it. 

Dearest Amumah....

Lost a very important person in my life today, the person who took care of me, put up with my nonsense, covered for me, backed me up and was always on my side through thick n thin. Her witty jokes and sneaky funny ways never failed to amuse. The one person who never said NO to me n always helped me get my way. 

Rest in peace Amumah, your jokes about leaving us has now become reality. You will be dearly missed but the memories will remain and be cherished ..........

Please go to 'In Loving Memory' to find the link to the book.

Home Sweet Home ........

Amma took center stage, where she rightfully belongs, for the past one month. Her photo was placed in the center of my living room, where she lay for her final few days with us and during
her funeral. She was and will always be the center of our universe and that of her grandchildren, so it was a fitting place for her.

Today, I had to reluctantly clear everything away and place her photo in her room. I did it with a heavy heart because it was another reminder that she was well and truly gone. But then I realised that her room was her favourite place in the house. It has been the center of her universe over the past few years. She took the saying 'Home Sweet Home' to the extreme.

I have put a few things of hers that are precious to her near her picture. 

In Loving Memory, a picture of her with her darling Athan, her cook book and ........

Let me know what else she would like near her.

Farewell to the Queen of Our Hearts

Our final tribute for our dearest Amma. The memorial service started off with a simple prayer followed by lunch and the unveiling of the book, In Loving Memory.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us in this final farewell for Amma.

No longer with us but always and forever in our hearts.

In Loving Memory

Here is a sneak peak of the memorial book, 'In Loving Memory' dedicated to our wonderful Ammah/Appachi/Amumah. The book tells the story of her life and the people that surrounded her.   They say, 'The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.' Needing to hold on to this remarkable person, we the family have put together this token to remember her by and keep her alive in our minds and heart.

Please email shamjeeva@yahoo.com if you want a copy. We will endevour to upload more pages of the book onto the blog.

31 days have passed..........

Amma's 31st day prayers went on as planned. It was a simple ceremony attended by family members. Jeyanthi organised the prayers and the prasadam that followed afterwards. 

Sri Ramalingeswarar Temple

It is with a heavy heart that we have to let go of our dear Amma. It is too difficult to even turn off  the flame of the 'vilakku' that has been burning for her this past one month. So we have decided to keep it going until Saturday. 

As Param put it, ' it seems so final.'

We had a surprise visitor this evening in the form of a 'bat.' Maybe it was Amma coming to say her farewell which she never had a chance to do so. Param did mention earlier that he had a feeling she might stop by since its her 31st and that was why everyone was here. How right he was.

The bat flies in through the front door and flies about upstairs before actually leaving through the TV room window.

Amma always struggled with stairs and never went upstairs and here she was flying about. 

FAREWELL DEAREST AMMA.

Amma's altar in Jeyanthi's house

All set for her prayers at the Ramalingeswar Temple in Bangsar tomorrow morning.

Working on the Memorial Book

Amma's grandchildren and Shanker worked hard to produce the book. Each one of them contributed a piece which will be revealed come Saturday morning. Dharan, Shan and Shanker with the help of Shan's friend worked tirelessly through the weekend to ensure that the book was ready to be sent to the printers on Monday morning. Amma is sure to be proud of her special book made out of our deepest love for her and with contributions from the whole family. 

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

Amma's ashes travelled safely in the arms of her sons and was put into the sea in Port Klang. Her final journey will see the rest of her ashes taken to India. We will be going to the River Bhavani and Rameshwaram at the end of April to perform prayers for her soul and release her ashes into the holy waters that flow through the Hindu holy land.

She will be accompanied by the ashes of Ragini, another deeply missed soul. 

Its true what they say,

'GOD ONLY TAKES THE BEST'

Exactly 4 weeks ago.........

If roses grow in heaven

If roses grow in heaven,

Lord please pick a bunch for us,

Place them in our Mother's arms

and tell her they're from us.

Tell her we love her and miss her,

and when she turns to smile,

place a kiss upon her cheek

and hold her for awhile.

Because remembering her is easy,

We do it every day,

but there's an ache within our hearts

that will never go away.

Anonymous

The Tree

Amma had talked about her ashes being kept near the house so that she could always remain close to us. We planted a tree instead and put a little momento in the ground along with the tree.

Memorial Service

Amma's 31st day falls on the 18th of April. We will be having a temple prayer for her on Thursday morning.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, the 20th of April at Taman Yarl between 12pm and 2pm. A special vegetarian lunch will be served after a simple prayer. Her grandchildren will be sharing their 'Memorial Book' dedicated especially for their darling Ammama and Appachi.

Always The Doting Grandmother

Amma with 6 of her grandchildren. 

(Most likely taken in 1996)

Sashi Kumar and Sashidharan (back)

Devain Kumar, Amma, Tisha Tatiana, Nisha Natalie and Nagendran (front L-R)

Amma and her iPad

How to leave a message

Thank you for visiting Amma's blog. You can leave a few words in the section entitled 'In Loving Memory.' Click on the link above and it will open up a new page. You will be able to see a comment box. Type your message in the box and click publish. Follow the instructions to proceed.

Alternatively you can leave a comment below each new post.

If you have a picture that you would like to share. You can email it to one of the family members or the addresses below and we will publish it on your behalf.

shamjeeva@yahoo.com

sashidharan@gmail.com

Get Well Card by Rania and Raul

Dearest Amma

Thavamoney Balasubramaniam

Click on the link above to watch a video tribute.