On February 9, 1970, she married Pampoor Varughese with the wedding officiated by Rev. K. E. Abraham. In June of 1971, their son Bobby was born. Leelamma and her son moved to Bombay, remaining in India while her husband went to the U.S. for work. In 1973, Pampoor was able to bring her and young Bobby to the U.S. permanently. In October of 1976, Nancy was born and completed their young family.
Throughout the years that followed, Pampoor was heavily involved in lay ministry with the India Christian Assembly in New York, while Leelamma faithfully supported him in his role as youth director and deacon, along with his other ministry leadership positions. Pampoor became an ordained minister in 1991 and in 1992 founded the Pentecostal Assembly of God in New Jersey. Though they lived in Long Island, New York, they sacrificially devoted their Saturdays and Sundays, commuting to New Jersey and back, in service to the church until they were able to relocate. Because of Leelamma’s health, her husband took an early retirement and they moved to Tampa, Florida in 1998.
During those early years in New York, not only was Leelamma’s family blessed to have her as a stay at home mother, her four brothers were also blessed to have a nurturing sister. Though most of her friends worked full-time, she only had small jobs, one working as a nurse’s aid, but mostly working full time in the home. At times, she not only discredited herself and undervalued her role as homemaker, she also assumed that God’s role for her in ministry was minor. But through her humble efforts, countless pastors, family members, and friends enjoyed her gift of hospitality. She sacrificially devoted herself in service so that her husband could pursue and fulfill the dream of ministry that God had placed on his heart.
After her husband passed away in 1999, Leelamma was supported by the love and care of local Brandon churches. Throughout much of her adult life, her health was fragile and multiple medical conditions afflicted her, but her strong faith in God allowed her to persevere. Starting in the summer of 2015, her health further weakened, but she continued to believe that God had a purpose in her struggle. She was an encouragement to her family and friends and her faith made a lasting impression on all who knew her. She is survived by her son Bobby (Susan), daughter Nancy (Pastor Dais Abraham), four beloved grandchildren (Josiah, Kaleb, Zekiel and Rebekah), as well as her brothers Joy, Oommen, Steephen, and Johnson along with their loving wives and children.
Visitation will be Sunday, October 23, 2016 from 6-8:00 p.m., with Funeral Service on Monday, October 24, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., both at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home, 2323 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon, FL Burial will follow at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens.
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