Malarao Panganamala

Mala R. Panganamala (Devaraju) of Columbus, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 1, 2015. Mala was born in Kakinada, India on May 29, 1938. She married Dr. Rao V. Panganamala on April 2, 1961 and immigrated to Columbus, Ohio in 1966. As a devoted wife and mother, Mala was well known for her generosity, her passion for life, and her commitment to friends and community. She was especially known for the unwavering devotion she showed to her siblings and to her parents. As the matriarch, Mala established unique rituals, combining Eastern and Western traditions, which would became the standard for three generations of family celebrations and gatherings. Mala was the first female president of the Telugu Association of Columbus Ohio (TACO). She was famous for welcoming friends of all walks of life into her home, her love of cooking, sharing her food with those she loved, and entertaining large groups of friends for celebrations. She also had a passion for singing Indian music and for gardening. Preceding Mala in death were her parents Devaraju Venketa Satyanarayanamurthy and Ranganayakamma, her elder brother, Devaraju Ramanarao, and her beloved husband of 46 years, Dr. Rao V. Panganamala. She is survived by her two cherished daughters Nancy and Joyce, and by James and Julia, the grandchildren whom she adored. She will truly be missed, especially in her contagious laughter, but there is comfort in knowing that she has left a strong legacy of love and devotion.