We are heartbroken to inform you of the passing of our beloved aunt, Ms. Indradevy Thambyayah, on December 25, 2022. She passed away suddenly in Montreal of heart failure.
She was the youngest daughter of the late Jame Ayampillai Thambyaya (Pungudutivu, Avarangal) and the late Rasammah Thambyayah (Pointpedro, Nallur). She was a devoted sister of the late Sushila Jayaratham (Thambyayah) and Kamala Aloysius (Montreal) for whom she was the primary guardian and caregiver. She was the favorite sister in-law of the late Alagiah Victor Jayaratnam (Sushila) and the beloved Aunt of Kalyani Paramanantham (UK), Tharani (Tara) Jayaratnam (USA) and Sumanthini (Suma) Jayaratnam (USA). Indra was the loving Ant-in-law of Kanahendran Paramanantham (UK) and Muhammed Ilyas Hassan (USA) and the doting grand aunt of kovalan, Kokila and Rehaan.
Indra graduated in 1968 from Women’s Christian College (WCC) in Chennai, India with a BSc in Chemistry and Physics. She left Sri Lanka as a young graduate to teach in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the 70s at Iteque Menen Girls’ High School and then for over a decade in Nigeria where she was Assistant Director of the School and later, the Director of the Science Department at Women’s Teachers’ College, Sokoto, Nigeria where she oversaw a department of 20 science teachers.
She moved to Montreal, Canada in November 1988 and lived in Cote Des Neiges until her passing. Indra worked in the non-profit sector in the 90s and was an advocate for the immigrant Tamil community for 34 years and served as a Commissioner of Oath. Because of her selfless service, devotion and dedication to the displaced Tamis as well as to the English and Tamil church communities, she was recognized as “Indra Teacher” wherever she went, whether it be at Tim Hortons for coffee, the mail or in the local shops. She was teaching at Petit Chapiteau School and Simonne Monet School in Montreal until the Pandemic struck.
She has been the helpful neighbor, aunt and teacher, in every place that she has lived in since her 20s. In 2013, she visited her birthplace after 32 years and lent her home in Jaffna to serve a a Women’s Empowerment Center for GreenDreamsWomen, a nonprofit she co-founded with her niece Tharani, and continued to sustain over the years. Her lifelong dedication to teaching and community service from Jaffna, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Montreal has been a guiding light to many students and to their parents. She was also fiercely independent and courageous and lived life on her own terms.
In keeping with her Christian teachings Indra was the epitome of service. Many a times she did this at the expense of her health and wellbeing. That was who Indra was and that was when se was the happiest and most fulfilled.
Though our loss is profound, we know she has found her peace and happiness with her Father whom she served with unwavering faith. May her soul be glorified.
Details of her Celevration of Life will be forthcoming.
Calls / Whasapp/Viber – +16163344310; email – tara.jayaratnam@gmail.com
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Thambyayah Indradevy 2022 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
Death notice for the town of: Montréal, Province: Quebec