Aparna Mummaneni

Aparna Adusumilli Mummaneni was born on March 8,1975, on International Women's Day in the Year of the Woman as she'd proudly note, in Movva, Andhra Pradesh, India to Narayana Rao and Rajyalakshmi Adusumilli. She spent her youth alternating between the US—where her parents spent time in New York and then settled in Missouri—and India, where she was also cared for by her grandparents Bhaskara Rao and Chandravati Tatineni. From a young age Aparna found the greatest joy in her relationships: first, with those who raised her, and later with those she cared for, beginning with her brother Vamsi, then her cousins Teja and Prashanth, and many more members of her extended family in Vijayawada and Hyderabad. Although she maintained that she was not a complete goody two-shoes, she was mysteriously every other parent’s favorite child, and enjoyed many a congratulatory treat for her good behavior. Amongst this abundance of sweets, her favorites remained the Kit Kats that her parents would bring back from Missouri.

Aparna completed her primary and secondary education in India and returned to the US for graduate school. She completed her Masters in Engineering at Mizzou, and then her MBA at the University of Kansas. Her true passion, however, had always lain in the caring for and helping of others; she followed her calling in teaching and tutoring, putting her considerate nature to the service of her students.

Along the way, Aparna’s personal life blossomed. In 1998 she married Dr. Reddiah Babu Mummaneni, son of Venkata Subbaiah and Jhansi Rani. Babu would very quickly become the second half of her soul, and Aparna was Babu’s entire world. Without fail they tackled every obstacle and adventure as a team, supporting each other’s passions and side projects. From their devoted union came her daughter, and future best friend, Anurima in 2002. This lifelong relationship with her daughter would run deeper than all others, and was a source of much joy, understanding, and love.

As she raised her daughter, Aparna’s family moved around the country—at every location, she made it a point to become a vital part of her community. In each city she lived, she found a way to pursue teaching. When the family lived in Aiken, South Carolina, Aparna tutored high school students for their SATs. In Austin, she tutored middle and high school students, and later became a college admissions counselor, completing her training through UCLA. She worked primarily pro bono, and dedicated her time each year to getting low-income and underserved students into college with full scholarships.

Aparna sought to see as much of the world as she could. A fearless and consummate traveler, she made her first solo international flight at age seven, traveling to India with passport and green card in hand—a more difficult journey, she would be quick to remark, than her daughter would make alone 25 years later from South Carolina to Missouri. In more recent years, armed with Babu as her permanent travel buddy, she visited Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Guatemala. She retained her love of Kit Kats, and tried every flavor that she could (and probably that exists) on her trip to Japan last spring to celebrate Babu’s 50th birthday.

Aparna was overjoyed to witness her daughter graduate college in June, and was looking forward to more trips to Los Angeles to be with her and to visit her beloved niece and nephew. Regrettably, Aparna passed away in her home on July 23, 2024. She is survived by her daughter Anurima, her husband Babu, her parents Narayana Rao and Rajyalakshmi, her brother Vamsi, her sister-in-law Aarthi, and her niece Krishna and nephew Arjun, as well as countless other relatives and friends throughout the world. She is also survived by every kind deed performed by all of those who loved her.

Aparna remains forever a shining light in our lives. We are all better people because we were lucky enough to have been in her presence. As we grieve, we remember her unconditional love for all of us. And as her beloved Arjun and Krishna would say, we will forever love her to the Andromeda Galaxy and back, times infinity.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Aparna’s name to a charity of your choosing. Two in particular that were dear to Aparna’s heart were UNICEF, and the Malala Fund, both empowering female education throughout the world.