Iranganie Rosemary Weerasuria

Iranganie Rosemary Weerasuria, was born April 24, 1933, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She passed away peacefully on July 7, 2020, in Austin, TX. She lived 87 wonderful years and will be missed by family, friends and colleagues.

Iranganie studied the Montessori pedagogy under the son of Dr. Maria Montessori, Mario Montessori at the Association of Montessori Internationale. After traveling the world being a directress and observing various Montessori environments, she was recruited by President Lyndon B. Johnson to bring the Montessori method to the United States. She traveled to central Austin in 1961 on an atomic scientist visa and opened the first of many locations of International Montessori House of Children in 1965. Iranganie’s Montessori schools have educated thousands of central Austin children, including members of the Johnson family. Iranganie will be remembered for her successful introduction and implementation of Montessori schools. She was loved and respected by many staff, students and families.

Iranganie is preceded in death by her father H. Bertie Frederick De Silva, mother Muriel Grace De Silva, and siblings Eardley De Silva, Ian De Silva and Charmaine Weerasinghe. Her brother Kenneth Desilva, passed just 5 days later on July 12th. She is survived by her loving son, Sriyantha Weerasuria, her only grandchild, Shelby Weerasuria, and many loving nieces, nephews, family and friends both here and abroad.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.