Joyamma Puthumana

Joyamma studied BSc Mathematics in St. Agnes College Mangalore, India. And pursued teaching career in Baliamadam, Thiruvalla.

After marriage, they moved to England in 1956 for her husband to pursue higher studies as Physician. In 1958, they moved to Nigeria on the British Colonial Service as a Physician. During this timeframe they had 4 children Jogey, Jeffy, Jancy and Jeena. In 1962-63 they were in Cameroon, where they had their youngest son Juno.

In 1964, Joyamma followed her husband’s dream and vision like his ancestors; of starting plantations in Karnataka and Nilambur. During the first phase in India, Joseph worked as the only Physician in Thodupuzha .

In 1971, Joyamma and Joseph returned back to Nigeria for a short period to take the ECFMG test for USA.

In 1973, they followed Joyamma’s dream to come to America, where they first settled in Long Island, NY, working in a State hospital doing Residency in Psychiatry.

After 2 yrs, they moved to Alabama and Ohio, and finally settled in Binghamton, NY, where Joyamma got her degree as a Dietician and worked as Dietician for a short period.

When their first granddaughter was born in 1989, Joseph retired and came to Ellicott City, MD. Here they stayed for about 20 yrs, alternating every 6 months with their home in Kerala. The later years, when in US, they lived between her childrens houses. Joyamma was an incredible grandmother to the 10 grandkids, who got the opportunity to group up with her in their Ellicott City tharavadu and receive her affection. Her children and grandchildren looked forward to eating her Biriyani, kappa, meen cury, sweet boli.

In November 2019 , while in Kochi , she broke her leg and continued to stay in Kochi.

After a year, for their first grandchild Neena’s wedding they came to USA in the peak of Covid and following that, they lived between the children’s home.

Joyamma is survived by her loving husband Dr. Joseph Puthumana, and their children: Dr. Philip (Jogey) and Tessy (Alapatt), Dr. Stephen (Jeffy) and Mary/Jamy (Maliakkal), Jancy and Charles Pattara, Dr. Jeena and Jolly Chettupuzha, Dr. Joseph (Juno) and Dr. Loveen/Lulu (Pudukadan). And their grandchildren Dr. Neena and Collins, Dr. Lisa, Joseph (Jojo), Dr. Joseph (Josh), Paul (PJ). Dr. Rebecca, Alex and Rani, Joe, Alexander (Julian), Sharon.

Joyamma loved socializing and made lots of friends along the way. She took the effort to maintain and value all the relations, family, and friends. Her friends are across the world, and many got to visit her in last few months when her health was declining. She enjoyed the visits from friends and relatives and phone calls.

She loved singing and she is known for her singing and dancing at almost all gatherings. No one has ever seen her without a smile on her face. She was a homemaker but was abreast with everything in the world and made sure that all her children became competitive and successful.

We all are blessed to celebrate Joyamma and Joseph’s 70th Wedding Anniversary on December 3,rd 2022 with family and friends.

Joyamma lived a blessed life with prayers and Christian beliefs.

She left this world to her heavenly abode in the most peaceful way, early in the morning in her sleep on the 31st of December 2022.

Wake/Visitation Livestream

https://youtu.be/AHmZuDy9gKY

Funeral Livestream

https://youtu.be/-FliqapRSjE

A visitation for Joyamma will be held Friday, January 6, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Witzke Funeral Homes Inc., 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045. A funeral service will occur Saturday, January 7, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at St Alphonsa Syro Malabar Catholic Church, 5709 Oakland Rd., Halethorpe, MD 21227. Interment will follow at St. John's Cemetery, 3480 St Johns Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21042 at 1:00 PM.