Dear sheela, Sudhir, and Suma!

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
"Those we love are never really gone, they have a cherished place in our hearts, where they will always be remembered for the kindness they showed, the love  they shared, and the happiness aunty brought"

Thank you auntie for showing your kindness and the love you shared with us.  
Sheela, Sudhir and Suma our prayers are with you.

Samuel family 




What I remember about Saroja was how much she loved her family.  Getting to know her and hear her heart regarding Katie and Zach-her love was so clear.  I know she was so happy when Zach and Annie became engaged and then married.  She was a wonderful strong rock during times of sadness and a clear beacon of the eternal hope we have in Christ.  What a wonderful example she was to all of us. 

Saroja aunty was more than a friend to us . In fact she was a part of our family . 
Our association with aunty has been more than 50years.  My mom and aunty were  like sisters. She used to never miss wishing us on our birthday's and send beautiful handmade cards for Christmas. She was always in constant touch with all of us.

We have lovely memories of aunty. We used to eagerly wait to see aunty whenever she visited India  . She loved Indian food . Jackfruit and mangoes were her favorite. She was a kind-hearted , helpful and jovial person.  Very rare to find a person like her. 

We will miss you aunty.  Though you will always be in our memories life long  as a wonderful person. 

May God give Sheela , Sudhir ,Suma and family members the strength to bare this great loss. 

Tears roll down my eyes as I conclude this message. We all love you. 


Saroja Aunty was our neighbour in India.
Our association with Aunty's family is around 50 years almost my age.
She was like a mother to all of us, she always use to call and tell me that I still remember you as baby whom she used to love carrying.
She was a very jovial person who used to make fun of all of us irrespective of the age.
She used to remember all our Birthdays including our children and send beautiful hand made cards.
Whenever Aunty used to come to India she used to bring beautiful dolls  which we have still preserved in our show case.
She used to enjoy our homemade idli sambar,ladoos, mixture, obatu and mango juice.
 She was a mother, friend and guardian to us. Her voice is still lingering in our ears.
My mother has lost her dearest friend she is still in a state of shock not able to come out of it.
She is the most loveable person whom we will cherish all our life.

My mother Susan was close friends with Saroja Aunty for 65 years since they began nursing college together in Mysore. When their lives took them to the middle east and the US respectively they always remained in touch - even visiting Saroja Aunty at her home in New Jersey and then in Illinois.  In recent years, with travel difficult due to age, they always kept in phone contact until just a few weeks before Aunty's passing.  It is with heavy hearts that we all heard the news.  We wish the family, children and grandchildren much love and prayers for strength during this difficult time.  

With loving regards,

Suma (Susan) K. Nair, N.K. Nair, Sarita Pillai and Family, Sheela Conaty and family

My mother Susan was close friends with Saroja Aunty for 65 years since they began nursing college together in Mysore. When their lives took them to the middle east and the US respectively they always remained in touch - even visiting Saroja Aunty at her home in New Jersey and then in Illinois.  In recent years, with travel difficult due to age, they always keep in phone contact until just a few weeks before Aunty's passing.  It is with heavy hearts that we all heard the news.  We wish the family, children and grandchildren much love and prayers for strength during this difficult time.  

With loving regards,

Suma (Susan) K. Nair, N.K. Nair, Sarita Pillai and Family, Sheela Conaty and family

I have some lovely memories of aunty Saroja. As a boarder in Baldwin girls high school Bangalore she used to take me and my siblings home for the weekend and spoil us by being so kind and generous. Later in Bidar while on holidays with our parents she would bake cakes and share recipes with us- I always remember her being busy looking after everyone .
So sorry to hear about her death . 
Kayjay and I send our heartfelt condolences to the entire family. She was a mother extraordinaire. We know you will miss her .
Be strong and know that she is in the place resting peacefully.
Love and warm hugs to each one of you.
Ragini and Kayjay Brar
Your cousins

 This  last sentence in my memory of Saroja >> "Saroja's faith, trust and love in Jesus gave her strength and joy to live life victoriously"  came from Saroja's obituary. I should have put it in quotation marks as I wasn't wanting  to use others words as if they were mine. 

Remembering Saroja Aunty

2 Timothy 4 : 7
I have fought the good fight , I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.


Aunty was a close family friend but cared for us like her own children .

She taught us christmas songs to sing in english. During christmas she gathered mission compound  children to go Carol singing and the money that was collected during the Carol's was given to the church.

Aunty taught us songs from the movie sound of music and we  enacted one part of the song in ETCM Hospital Kolar.

Aunty used to invite children for birthday parties and gave out lot of goodies.

Though she moved abroad she never forgot to talk to us in Kannada. She kept her roots grounded.

Every year she used to call us for our birthdays  and sing happy birthday to us and send us handmade christmas cards which we always looked forward to. 

A kind and generous heart, aunty helped many students for their education till they finished teachers training and for some to finish nursing.

Aunty's favourite food items are:  biryani, kosumbari , vada ,obattu,  mysore pak,  masala dosa.

She loved wearing bangles and jasmine flowers.

Very simple person who was always cheerful and humerous.  She was very prayerful and kept her  faith strong till the end.

We will surely miss her.  Her memories will still remain.

With much love and prayer
To Sheila, Sudhir, Suma and the rest of the family members.

Love Eileen & Grace.

Her love for her Lord and Savior was First and Foremost. Her obituary notice beautifully portrays her Faith in Jesus & her Love & Kindness for Everyone she met on her journey of life. As I write this there is sadness & tears as I think she is no longer with us & at the same time feeling so thankful in my heart for the Gift of knowing Saroja.  Saroja's faith, trust and love in Jesus gave her strength and joy to live life victoriously.  She will be dearly missed. 

Saroja , was a lovely part of our family that will be greatly missed.

Shirin samuel
May 15 2019

To sheela, Sudhir, and Suma
We are very sorry to hear about your loss May your faith sustain you at this difficult time

What a blessing God placed in our lives when Saroja came into them. She was a Proverbs 31 women, a great example to us. I loved being with her talking, laughing & learning. I loved to hear her pray & she was always ready to pray with you & for you. I rejoice that she is home with our Lord & grieve for the loss of her fellowship.

We fondly remember Saroja Aunty and her many trips to India. She would always be smiling, full of energy and would never forget a gift. She introduced us to the famous Kolar Ladoos which we all relished!!!
She would every year send a hand made Xmas card, complete with Indian stamps and was very methodical.
She brought up three lovely children almost single handed and had everything planned well in advance.
She has gone to her eternal rest and we will all miss her dearly. May the good Lord give the family strength to bear this loss and assure them that she has gone to a far better place!!!!

I knew Saroja from St. John's.  We were both nurses on the Mother-Baby unit.   She was always a kind and fun loving person.   I enjoyed knowing and working with her.  She will be missed greatly.    I send my sincere sympathy to her family.   Mary Etta Loscher


The 1st time I met Saroja aunty was during Sheela's marriage to my best friend Deepak.

Later, when we hosted her and Suma during their visit to Sydney a quarter of a century ago.

On Sunday, we were traveling on the Blue mountains. She made me stop the car next to a village church. We went inside for the Sunday service (much to the surprise of everyone present).

Saroja aunty wasn't too impressed when we took them out on long drives to see places of natural wonders. She revealed that she would rather see the heart of Sydney. (Preferred the "Razzale Dazzle" of City life to the surrounding natural beauty).

She was so thrilled to see the Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, the Cruise the tall buildings of the city etc. We were quite surprised by this, as they were visiting us from America.

Aunty made me take so many photographs throughout her stay. Later informed me that she sadly lost them all due to the studio's fault.

Saroja aunty was so much full of fun with a childlike enthusiasm. Very assertive. Always spoke her mind. I remember her squinting her eyes to catch while I spoke with her. Very sharp person are my memories of Saroja aunty.

May God bless her Soul.



Sheela, Deepak and the family we the Woodward family send our condolences to you all , may God grant eternal rest to aunty and the joys of heaven,and give you all the strength to accept the loss of your loved one though it's going to be difficult but will keep you all in my prayers lots of love and god bless Mavis Mary Kevin.

Saroja Aunty was one of the most vivacious people I have known. She had an endearing zest for life, people, fun and food!Especially Indian food  with drumstick, (Moranga) as one of the ingredients!
I have had the honor and privilege of having known her from the time I was a little  girl and used to look forward to meeting her whenever she visited Bengaluru. Her aura of joy was very infectious! 
However, as time passed, caught up in the 'rat race' of life, I lost touch with her, but she remained close to my heart and was always in my thoughts.
A life well lived indeed! 
My condolences to Sheila, Sudhir, Suma, their spouses and all of Saroja  Aunty's grandchildren on behalf of my mother Sarojini Kanthan and the rest of my family. We loved her so much and will miss her in this life
Looking forward to meeting her in Heaven.....
 Until then, adieu Saroja Aunty.

 

Saroj Aunty as I fondly call her was more than an Aunty to me and to our family, Mitra's. I know her right from the time I was a toddler, five decades plus from a small town called Kolar in South India. Energetic, caring and loving person. Person with large heart of love and unwavering faith in the Lord. A person as close as my Mom to me and to our Mitra family. Praise the Lord, she finished her course of faith and is home leaving a legacy of love and faith for us to follow in the Lord.

Paul and family, so sorry for your loss, but happy for her gain! I can't say I knew her well, but she raised an awesome son and her legacy lives on through you and her grand kids! 

I will always be grateful for each memory of Saroja - what a great, compassionate, and funny woman of God.  I met her shortly after beginning my work as a chaplain at St. John's in 1993 and we had many good conversations.  She knew my wife through the Springfield Clinic eye department and my daugher from her work at Meijer.  May God ever 
keep her in His love and care.

so sorry for your loss of this dignified lady. she always won everyone's heart. I choose to remember her as a quiet presence in a room full of people. much love to paul as she was your trusted advisor and support. I will remember her until we meet in heaven.

I’m so sorry for your loss. I only met her twice, but she left quite an impression. Her obviously love for Christ and loved ones was abundant. I will forever treasure the birthday card that she gave me this year and her words of encouragement. It is evident that she loved each of you very much.  Sending hugs from Ohio.

    Little Momma, was a small framed woman who had a heart that would have filled the oceans will her amount of LOVE! She remembered every detail of everyone and never met a stranger. Her love and pride for Sheila - Paul and Suma and grandkids was in her heart and shined in her eyes. She is a woman that has no equal for size of heart and love and compassion. Her voice is unforgettable and just hearing it would brighten any gloomy mood because you felt her LOVE in it and knew she cared. Every birthday and holidays and Christmas would be a call from her. If she was going to be traveling or busy she would call EARLY so as to let me know still in her heart and love. She would tell me David Alan I know I'm early but never want to be late. My grandparents I don't think quite knew the LOVE they would get from John and Saroja but they soon found out and LOVED THEM BACK! 
 Wanted her to live FOREVER but even GOD NEEDS SOMEONE TO LIFT HIS SPIRIT so guess he called her to him and the MANY LOVED ONES ALREADY THERE.

OBITUARY

Saroja W. Ayappa

2 October, 1936 – 11 May, 2019

Bisch & Son Funeral Home

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