Kumanan Family,

Amamma was a sweet person, she would always smile, give hugs and brought a lot of memories. She would always ask us “epadi Sugam achchi/apu?” 

Aruvi, 

I still have a picture of her smiling, captured in my mind that I would never forget.

Please accept our heartfelt condolences to you and your family 🙏🙏🙏

Dear family of Mrs. Padigalingam,

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs. Padigalingam Please accept my heartfelt condolences. May the many beautiful memories you shared bring you comfort and remain with you always.

Wishing you strength and courage during this difficult time.


With sympathy,
The Thanabalasingam family

Today we say goodbye to a remarkable woman whose life touched so many. Sarojiniamma  Padigalingam was a source of warmth, wisdom, and grace. Her kindness and strength will never be forgotten.
She lived a full life, surrounded by love, and leaves behind a legacy of compassion and faith.
We will miss her dearly, but her spirit lives on in the memories we share.
Rest peacefully, Sarojiniamma Padigalingam — your light will always shine in our hearts. 💐

Pratheesh & Priyaa
Elkridge MD

To Bernadine and Family,

Thinking of you and your family. Sending love and strength during this difficult time. I enjoyed hearing all the beautiful stories about your mother-in-law during our afternoon walks and I know how much you loved her. I truly admired the bond shared between you and your mother-in-law. I look forward to hearing more stories to keep her memories alive. I wish you and your family peace and comfort. Peace, Tanya L.

AMMA
An Ounce of Mother is worth a Pound of Clergy
-Spanish Proverb

The most remembered dialogue ever, in any Bollywood movie is, “I have mother”.
In the storyline of the movie ‘Deewaar’, the mother (Nirupa Roy) chooses to live with honest middle class son (Sashi Kapoor), rather than the bad man millionaire son (Amitabh Bachhan). Amitabh in one of the conversations, boasts, “I have cars, houses, and wealth. What do you have?”
The Sashi Kapoor replies, “I have mother”
*****
I met Amma almost two decades ago, and took an immediate liking for her.
Maybe, I was longing for my own biological mother, whom I had lost a few years earlier. Surprisingly, Amma and she were born in the same year, 1930, and both were teachers by profession, that too very strict ones.
A cheerful Amma always welcomed my wife, daughter and me, every time we visited her at Ananthy and Siva’s home at Swallow Point Road. She was the baby sitter for Keeran and Seran, every time their parents were away. Sometimes we left Pooja under her care too.
Routinely, Amma and Ananthy cooked ‘koozh’ a thick soup with sea food and palm roots. It tasted heavenly. Amma was not adept at making idlis anyway. 
We listened to Amma narrating the good times and the horrors and genocide that followed, back home in Sri Lanka. She could recite Saiva Scriptures like Devaram and Thiruvasakam flawlessly, and with dexterity. Though an atheist myself, I admired her memory and beliefs.
Often in commercials they would praise ‘a home away from home’. Amma was a ‘mother away from mother’ for quite a few of us. It is absolutely true when they say, “God can’t be everywhere, therefore he made mothers”. Sarojini Amma was one such.
After Amma and the Navaratnams moved to North Potomac, and we moved to Brookeville, the frequency of our visits reduced.
*****
When we bought the house in Brookeville, Amma was our first visitor. She found it difficult to negotiate the steps to the main door way. The stepping stone had sunk a little, and the he

Condolences to the family during this difficult time sending prayers and love your way from sanchayan thanu ishani and arjuna!!!

Mrs. Padialingham,  as we fondly call her,  former teacher of mine, she was a landmark of our school days—etched in our memories even 45 years later. Known for her punctuality and boundless energy in the classroom, she was always a presence you could count on. She walked with both a smile and a frown—warm yet firm, kind yet commanding.
Her voice was powerful—capable of quieting a room, commanding respect, and inspiring minds. She was strict, but fair, and every lesson she taught came not just from books, but from experience and deep care.
She raised all her children single-handedly, a testament to her strength and resilience. Beyond the classroom, she was a dear friend and confidante to my mother, and a steady presence in our lives.
She was there for all of us—more than just a teacher, she was a guide, a protector, and a lifelong inspiration.
We are forever grateful for the lessons she taught us, the strength she showed, and the love she gave. Her legacy lives on in each of us, and she will always be a part of who we are.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, at this difficult time. 

Sriskandarajah Family

OBITUARY

Sarojiniamma Padigalingam

January 8, 1930 – July 18, 2025

National Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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