Calakudi P. Mathew

Calakudi Mathew was born in Niranam (Kerala, India) on November 5, 1934 to Ms. Aleyamma Varkey and Mr. Yohannan Eapen. He was the eldest of 7 children. He graduated high school and was employed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Kanpur, India. He married Sarah on May 9, 1965. Calakudi and Sarah were blessed with their only child, Sudha.

Calakudi was born in a Jacobite Christian family, then at a young age he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and joined the Pentecostal church. Calakudi was an essential part of the Pentecostal church and other church ministry activities while living in Kanpur, India. Calakudi and Sarah immigrated to the USA in 1995 and settled in Philadelphia, PA. While living in Philadelphia, he was employed at Cintas from where he eventually retired.

Over the years, they were active members of Philadelphia Tabernacle Church of God, where he practiced and professed his faith and undying commitment to the Lord. Since 2017, he was a member of Grace Shalom Church, Southampton, PA. Calakudi was a man of prayer and he devoutly meditated on the word of God. Calakudi's unwavering love for Jesus was evident in his daily life through prayer and intercession for many people. Everyone who knew Calakudi can greatly attest that he had a very humbling and forgiving nature. His greatest desire was that the next generation should serve and love the Lord just like he did.

On May 10, 2024, Calakudi found peace in the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He leaves behind a love that fills the emptiness he leaves, and his memory will forever be a source of comfort.

He is preceded in death by his wife Sarah Mathew and survived by his daughter Sudha George, son in law Stanley George, grand children Timothy and Nathanael George and his siblings Mariamma Mathai (Chinnamma), Aleyamma Chandy (Kunjamma), Saramma Chandy (Thankamma), Eapen P. Varghese (Joy), Annamma Chacko (Mollykutty), John P. Eapen (Raju) and their families.