Ariamani Mercy Arulrajah

She is the wife of the late Sithambarapillai Arulrajah; loving mother of Sahayini Kumar and her husband Ananda; beloved sister of late Ariarasah William (married to Suguna), Aryarani Devaprasad, Grace Vithana and Pearl Selvadurai (Hartley); dear aunt of Samuel, Arindran (Helen), Jonathan (Lakshi), Priscilla (Dhammika), Esther (David) and Channa and Susan (Mark).

A devout Christian, her life was shaped by her love for Jesus. She was active in her church, her life was guided by the Scriptures, and she inspired all who knew her to live with the same devotion, humility, and love she exemplified.

Throughout her life, she found joy in nurturing both the earth and the hearts of those around her. A lover of gardening, she could often be found tending to her plants, growing an abundance of tomatoes, herbs, and, above all, roses. Her vegetable garden was not just a personal passion but a means of giving to others. Each season, she shared the fruits of her labor with her church community.

Her love for cooking was equally cherished by all who knew her. Her kitchen was a place where meals were prepared with love and generosity, and where friends and family always felt welcome.

Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation at the Burgee Henss Seitz Funeral Home, Inc., 3631 Falls Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21211 on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 5:00pm -8:00pm.

Mrs. Arulrajah's life will be celebrated on Saturday, December 21st at 11 AM at Faith Christian Fellowship, 505 E. 42nd Street , Baltimore, MD 21218 .A repast will be held immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall.

Tribute

When I think about my Mum’s attributes, three things come to mind: servanthood, peacemaking, and prayer warrior.

Ever since I can remember, she has had a servant heart. Her sisters talk about how she served everyone in the house and helped them all the time. All her friends say the same about her helping them with various things. As for me, being an only child, she devoted her life to making sure I was doing well. My friends tease me about how spoiled I was even during my days in medical school and after I started working in Sri Lanka. When I got married and moved to the US about 20 years ago, she would spend 6 months each year visiting us, not to sightsee but to help with cooking, cleaning, gardening etc. Even after her cancer diagnosis when she moved in with us 5 years ago, she did not slow down. She continued to serve us and her friends here. I am sure many of you have experienced her delicious meals and tomatoes from her garden.

Growing up I also remember my mother as being feisty, though many of you may not know her that way. She would get angry and harbor grudges when she was hurt. She would not hesitate to let those involved know this as well. This started changing when she put her faith in Christ about 30 years ago and was gradually being transformed into his likeness. She started forgiving those who wronged her when she understood how much she had been forgiven. She started being an instrument of reconciliation to those of us who were holding grudges. She would subtly make me do things like inviting someone for a meal if she realized that I was not getting along with them. I am sure her family and friends have experienced her advice or gentle nudging to forgive and make peace.

Finally, I want to talk about her being a prayer warrior. I did not know her this way till the last few years. She started spending more time with God in prayer. She would also pray with her friends, and twice a week she would phone her friend Asha in California and pray for all her loved ones. If you met her, you would have been prayed for. In the month before she died, she had her close friends, family, our pastor and elders from church visit her to pray with her. But she always ended up praying for all of them in the end. I was more amazed in the final week when she was in hospice care, she could barely eat or walk, but she never stopped praying. She even prayed with Dominique, her health aid from Gilchrist who came to wash her 2 days before she died. Her last words on earth were speaking to God in prayer a few hours before she died. Ananda’s mum wrote in her journal that prayer is the most important work. My mum, therefore, was working and serving God and others till the day she died.

My mum was someone who lived a simple life, and was always in the background serving, not wanting any fame or attention to herself. Now she is in the presence of her Creator having a feast and being honored among all the saints who have gone before her. Not because of what she did but because she put her faith in Jesus, the Creator of the universe who came to serve us and not be served, who died on our behalf to make peace with God, and who is now praying and advocating for us. May we, like Mum, love and serve Him forever.