Yamuna was born in the town of Parur in the state of Kerala in Southern India. She was raised in Madurai, India, where she did her early schooling. She was enrolled in college at Madras Christian College, and it was during her early years as a student that she met and fell in love with Dr. C. H. Narayanan, a professor of Zoology. They were married and spent over 60 years of life together.
After a period of years devoted to raising her children, Yamuna and her husband came to the USA to pursue higher education. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, then her Masters in Education. Her endless curiosity and interest in biological sciences led her to complete her PhD in Biology-Genetics at Washington University in St Louis MO.
Yamuna and CH Narayanan moved to New Orleans in 1971 to join the research faculty at LSU-School of Medicine.
Together with her husband, she pursued an active program of research studying the development of the brain and spinal cord. After her husband’s retirement from LSU, she continued as a high school biology teacher in New Orleans until her retirement.
Yamuna was the matriarch and “rock” of the family. She was a source of strength for everyone in the family and the community. She was a woman of many talents – she loved cooking, she enjoyed Indian classical music, and was a devotee of the Hindu Temple. She was preceded in death by her loving husband in December 2012.
She is survived by her three children, Manoj (Lakshmi), Vinodh (Chitra) and Pramilla (CV Subramaniam); seven loving grandchildren – Dinesh (Joanna), Vasant (Joanna), Akila, Preetha, Mohan, Venkat (Kusma) and Ambika; and three great grandchildren – Vikram, Lilly, and Alina.
We will all miss her sharp wit, her strong opinions, and mostly her love and guidance.
Donations may be made in her memory to SVVS Temple, 2730 Tupelo Street, Kenner LA, 70062.
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