Ayona Madhavi Dissanayake

Our dear Ayona Dissanayake peacefully passed away in Houston on July 28th, 2025. Ayo was the loving and beloved wife of Subash Jayawardena; mother of Pathum and Sayuri; sister of Savithri, Mandri, Kashyapa, Vajira, Devani and Rahula; and sister-in-law of Ari, Nihal, Ramani, Palitha, Udaya, Shiromani D., Prabhash, Nilmini (DhammaJeewa Maniyo), and Shiromani J.

Ayo was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. D. B. Dissanayake (Principal, Malyadewa College, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka) and late Mrs. Malathi Dissanayake.

Ayo was born on May 14, 1970 in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, and grew up there. She studied at Maliyadewa Girls College, Kurunegala. She then moved to the USA in late 1994, and has since mainly lived in Houston, TX with Subash raising their two children, Pathum and Sayuri. She also briefly lived in Cleveland, OH and in Tulsa, OK.

Ayo was a natural caregiver. She showed effortless, self-sacrificing love to raise her two kids. She was the second mother and bosom sister to many many more. Ayo brought smiles, comfort, and good coffee to the rooms she entered. We fondly remember her singing softly while cooking her amazing food and making cakes for her loved ones. She never forgot a birthday. Our celebrations went through the night and were filled with music, food, and games (especially 304).

As Subash’s loving wife, she made him a better person and always supported him in everything he did. She was his pillar of strength during difficult times. She complemented his weak areas and supplemented his strong ones. Together, they made a better home.

One of her biggest passions was music. From a small age, she was introduced to legends like Victor, T.M., and Nanda Malini who shaped her love for classical music. She was well known for her soothing and silky voice, and would skillfully perform Nanda Malini’s songs. She introduced her son (Pathum) to Victor songs from an early age, which spurred all his musical efforts, which she tirelessly supported. She was the backbone and driving force behind his four charity concerts and was working to support his next show featuring his own composed music. She was also the very first person to pen lyrics for Pathum’s music.

Following the 2004 Tsunami, she helmed a fundraiser that filled an entire shipping container with school supplies, toys, and essential items to go to Sri Lanka. She and Subash also coordinated bringing Victor’s “SA” concert on a U.S. tour to raise money for the tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.

As an animal lover, she was always feeding a family of stray cats, raccoons, possums that showed up at her door. She was that person who would always carefully catch a moth or a spider and release them outside. She also connected her artistic daughter (Sayuri) with an animal shelter to help them fundraise by selling her pet paintings. Ayo herself was a very creative person, and was known in the community for her paintings, cakes, bottles, and cards. For many years now, Ayo had sold her handmade cards all to buy lunches for a school for kids with special needs in Sri Lanka.

What was most important to Ayo was that her family learned to be kind—to each other, to animals, and to strangers; to love life and live your passions; and to always look at the bright side of things. We always looked to her as that example, and now every step we take in the future will follow that. Ayo was a true friend to all and would reach out to absolutely anyone she could help. We are thankful for her time with us, and we are better people for it.