Our Mother – the early years
Our Beloved Mummy, Mary Anne Ammaratnam was born the eldest child of Mr. J.T.Anthonypillai and Victoria Raneeammah of Pandiyanthalvu, Chundikuli East, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Mr. J.T. Anthonypillai served the Ceylon Government. Mary Anne Ammaratnam was born in Chundikuli East, Jaffna on the 25th March 1919 and studied at the Holy Family Convent in Jaffna. She was 5 feet 2 inches and had a mole on her left chin. She passed away on the 22nd of September 1990 at 71 years. She succumbed to secondary effects of breast cancer treatment.
She had six siblings, three brothers (George, Clifford, Thanganathan) and three sisters (Lily, Mano, Poopathy). Mummy had her schooling at Chundikuli in Jaffna. She was fluent in Tamil, Singhalese, English and Malay, which she picked up in Malaya after marriage.
The exemplary wife and exceptional mother
As wife, Mummy was dutifully bound and loyal to her husband, through thick and thin. She was happily married to our father, Mr. A.S.Ponniah, a Clerical Officer in Public Works Department who was then in the service of the Kedah Government in 1947. She used to recall how father came from Malaya to see her.
Marriage in Ceylon
During her 43 years of their marriage from 1947 to 1990, they lived through the Colonial period, the British Malaya Administration and finally the years of Independent Malaya and then Malaysia.
Her marriage was successful because of her subservience to the needs of her husband and family above that of her own. When it came to cardinal issues, she had the patience and tact to guide and convince the rest to take the right course of action.
Father and Mother brought up three children – Arunkumar, Rajaji and Selvaji, who have held senior posts in the Malaysian civil service. Arunkumar retired in the year 2004 after serving in the Finance Ministry, while Rajaji and Selvaji have retired after serving in the Tourism Ministry and Ministry of Home Affairs respectively.
Her charisma and charm was so wonderful that everyone who knew her loved her. She was fondly called by her relatives as “Periacca/Peria Mummy”
Deep Affection and Passion for Relatives in Ceylon
Made no less than ten visits either by ship or air to Ceylon after marriage. Her last visit to Sri Lanka was in December 1988 after the 1988 Sri Lankan Army Truce with India. Despite her illness, she traveled by road from Colombo to Jaffna with her husband and her faithful maid Valli Manikam. During this visit, she parted her ancestral land in Pandiyanthalvu to her beloved brothers and sisters.
Mummy was bestowed with a loving and caring attitude towards the family, relatives and friends. She was a loving wife and mother who looked after all our needs. Mummy was always there when we needed her. She never wanted anything herself. Her life was one of love, selfless service and sacrifice. Most of all she educated us on the virtues and values of life and ensured that all of us were upstanding, responsible and independent. She was instrumental in inspiring us to seek higher education up to university level. She was also concerned about the welfare of not only her children, but also of their spouses, her grandchildren. At the time of her demise, she was proud and happy to have six grand children. Mummy never demanded respect, she earned it through her gracious qualities.
Mummy was also gifted with excellent house keeping and culinary skills. She was a talented cook which always kept Daddy, with his duties returning home for lunch and later at night for dinner, and we the children and friends looking forward for her meals even after we got married. She was especially good at sewing, embroidery work and making palagarms such as murukku, omaipodi, paitham urundai, ariyatharam, kueh bengkang and many more mouth-watering dishes. During her short visits to Sri Lanka, she always prepares meehoon (rice noodles) for her relatives. She sewed beautiful dresses with her Singer sewing machine for all her grand children and close friend’s children.
Another asset was her intimate knowledge of Singhalese. Whenever introduced to a new Singhalese aquaintance, she will speak fluent Singhalese to the amazement of the person concerned.
As her age progressed, Mummy for the last 20 years has been happily living with her sons Arunkumar, Rajaji and Selvaji and for whom it has been her pleasure to provide the best in return for their concern over her. It has been mutual. Her children, grandchildren and daughters-in-law will miss her very much.
Her birthday and Christmas were always celebrated with all of us, children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. The last such occasion was on 25th December 1989.
Demise of the Grand Lady
On the 22nd September 1990, before her demise, all her children (except Selvaji who was overseas attending a government sponsored course in Dublin, Ireland) and her grandchildren were fortunate to bid her farewell. We miss our beloved mother. She passed away as she lived, graciously without being a burden to anyone. Mummy lived an amazing life completing her mission on earth.
For a lady of 71 years of age, she was remarkable with sound mind and good memory. She was an extraordinary woman an Adviser, Guardian, Companion and Comfort to her children, their spouses, in-laws and grandchildren.
Mummy provided great moral support and prayed daily for all of us. She passed away peacefully on 22nd September 1990 and was buried in the Petaling Jaya Christian Cemetery. A perpetual landmark is built with her photograph on the headstone.
Our Mummy has always been a source of inspiration to all of us and more than a model mother. We are confident she will continue to bless and watch over us. We salute you all the days of our life.
May Almighty God Bless Her Always.
Affectionate and Loving Children/Grand Children
Taman Yarl
58200 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA
07th March 2005
Last updated: 07/02/2016