Leela Cherian was born on September 23, 1938, as one of eight children to Mr. K.M. Skariah and Mariamma in Pampady, Kottayam. Just about this time her parents accepted the Pentecostal faith and became members of the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission. At this time their faith was severely tested in that her father became ill with Malaria and the family refused to seek medical treatment. Quite unexpectedly her father passed away at an early age of 38 leaving a large family in the hands of the young mother. But the family was financially secure because they owned several properties that generated regular income. Their relatives who were of Jacobite faith were enraged at the passing away of one of their dear ones by denying proper medical help. They got together and attacked the family, severally beating up the pastors and believers of the CPM faith who gathered in their house on the day their father died. But the family did not waver, stood firm in their faith. The family was again tested severely when three of their children caught Typhoid fever and two of them died, but Leelamma was miraculously healed. But it has seriously affected her continuing further education.
In February 1961 she was married to Jacob Cherian who was at that time an official in the Government of India working for the Atomic Energy Commission in Bombay. God has blessed them with three children: Nancy, Finney, and Ruby. In 1968 Jacob Cherian while working for the Government of India got an opportunity to come to the United States and Leelamma and the children joined him in the United States in 1971 and lived in New York until 1999.
The extreme cold weather in New York has affected her health causing severe allergic symptoms. Some of the medicines administered to alleviate the problem have affected her adversely and weakened her bones. To escape the cold weather Leelamma and her husband moved from New York to Orlando in 1999 and have become members of the India Pentecostal Church.
A few weeks ago she felt severe pain in the back and was admitted in the hospital. Further testing by the hospital has revealed that she was suffering from oxygen deficiency as her lungs were unable to produce enough oxygen. The hospital treated her for the oxygen deficiency but was not successful. After several days of treatment she passed away on Friday, March 16th at 4:30 p.m.
Leelamma accepted Christ as her personal savior at an early age and was baptized at the age of 16. She was a person of deep Christian faith and expressed a genuine concern for others who are in need. Her trust in Christ was evident throughout her life as she faced hardships, loss of parents, and death of her only brother. She never held any bitterness or resentment towards any one and loved people sincerely and without reservation. She never cared for her own comfort or wellbeing but was always concerned about others.
She is survived by her husband, Jacob Cherian, and three children and their families. Their oldest daughter, Nancy, and her husband Dr. Kurian Abraham live in Chicago and have three children: Ashley, Leslie, and James. Their son, Finney Jacob Cherian, an international business man, is married to Dr. Elizabeth and live in New York with their three children: Eden, Lydia, and Grace. Their youngest daughter, Ruby, is married to Dr. Koshy Samuel and they live in New York. They have two daughters: Sharon and Sara.
God has ever been so faithful and His grace and His love have kept the family safe and secure through all the ups and downs, in good times as well as in times of testing and difficulties. His mercy endures forever. Amen!
