(No Name)

Dear Family

It was indeed a great shock for us to hear the sad news on Thursday morning that our dearest Sister had passed away. In a way we are so glad that Gopi delayed the funeral till Friday so that the remaining sister Tulesi could come from Cape Town and be with us at the funeral. She looked so forlorn, sitting next to Vasi and me, because it was very sad to say farewell to a sister who in many ways was like a mother to us.

I suppose very early in life Kalyani akka took on this role when her own mother passed away at the young age of 36. Ever since then she has always been responsible for her brothers and sister, even after she got married and went away from home. I say this because for a time I was so confused when I was little, growing up in such a big family that I thought she was my mother because so often she took care of me and even after her first child died she and Kitty Babs took care of me so lovingly. They even dressed me in jeans like a boy.

I know that all the nieces and nephews in the family also received her special love and attention in Durban North. I know very often I would find Sandy and the others hiding in her kitchen if they were in trouble for something.

It is a credit to her personality that when each one of you visited her you always showered her with your love and  gifts. She always phoned and  told me who visited and what generous gifts you brought with you. She kept in touch with each one’s life and knew each one of your birthdays. She used to worry when your children were unwell and would keep us all informed about the family happenings. We lovely nicknamed her KNN( Kalyani news network)

It is also her special blessing in life that even though she had no daughters she was blessed with 3 lovely daughters in law, Maggie, Thavamoney and Surie who took such good care of her just like their own mother. Our family has shrunk so much that we could not even fill half the temple hall in unit one, but as the time went by, the entire hall filled up with neighbours of all religions who came to pay their respects to Aunty or Paati as they lovingly called her. There was one old lady from the area, who was in school with her when they were little and she visited her regularly to chat over old times.  Her passing was such a great shock to us because she was in a far worse condition last year and we never thought she would make it to Ruwaida and Pooveshree’s weddings. Those of you who have seen the videos will note how well she looked in the photos in which Tulesi joking calls us “the last survivors”. Aroo mameh surprised us by arriving at the funeral with Inba and he and Vithya mameh proceeded to the cemetery as well. Vithya mameh is very frail, but he insisted he wanted to go with. He is very tired now and is resting in anticipation of his return to Cape Town tomorrow. Senba Sinai’s presence was sadly missed by all of us. I know she will feel the loss terribly. At the funeral Dhansa read out a message that Tulesi and I wrote out for him and he mentioned each and every one of you and the loving messages and condolences you sent. I know that each of you will cherish their own special memories of a person who made us each feel special whenever we visited her.

With much sadness Love Goni