Ellen Rajarathinam

Ellen Gnanamani Rajarathinam, born to Gnanamuthu Arulappan Yesudian and Jeyamani Saral Yesudian on June 14, 1939. She was a woman of faith, courage, and devoted love. She was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu and grew up in a pastor’s family as the second of five children; Dr. John Willmott, Dr. Danielraj Yesudian, Mrs. Marythai Pandian, and Mrs. Lilly Moses. After completing her education from E.D. Thomas Higher Secondary School in 1958, she started her teaching career at James Memorial Higher Secondary School, Prakasapuram. She married Pr. Devaanbu Rajarathinam on March 23, 1964.

Ellen was a true pastor’s wife, Pastor Amma. She and her husband were partners in ministry planting many churches, facilitating countless marriages, counseling those in need, and opening the doors of Adventist education for numerous children. She gave birth to her first child Jasline Jeya Selvam in 1965 and her second child Richard Samuel in 1967. Since her earliest days as a mother, she strived to encourage her children to pursue higher education and to build unshakable character. Her professional life as a teacher allowed her to shape young minds with the same care and conviction she demonstrated in her own faith. Those who knew her understood that her Adventist principles were not merely professed but lived - in her faithfulness, her generosity, and her unwavering courage in the face of life's trials. Ellen later moved to the United States in 1995 where she continued to nurture family as a grandmother and great grandmother. Her life was devoted to others through loving presence and consistent service.

She delighted in singing hymns both in church worship and even by herself. She loved enjoying nature with her husband. She was a master cook whose kitchen was always open, whose table always full, and whose meals nourished both body and soul. But above all, she treasured time with family and friends, never missing a chance to be present with those she loved.

Every year, Ellen and her husband traveled back to India visiting churches they had planted and communities in which they served. However this year she bade them all goodbye saying this would be her final visit. She gave away all her clothes to women of the future of the church and spent time with children and grandchildren of people she worked with in her ministry. Ellen went to sleep in Jesus on June 6, 2026 in the comfort of her own home. Her daughter in law Mahmingi went to wake her up and give her food as she had done for 31 years and found that Ellen had passed peacefully in her sleep of natural causes. Her face shined of calm restfulness after a life fulfilled. She had prepared her clothes and tithe to go to church the next day welcoming the Sabbath rest. Little did anyone know that this Sabbath rest would be much longer. But when she wakes up this time, she will run straight to the feet of Jesus along with all those she brought to Him.

Ellen is survived by her husband, her siblings, her children Jasline and Richard, their spouses Frank and Mahmingi respectively; her grandchildren Johnny and Nikitha, Jennifer, Matthew and Ariel, Rachel and Coulter, and Sarah; and her great-grandchildren Nicole and Joseph. She is also dearly mourned by countless people around the world whose lives she touched. Her legacy is one of faith lived fully, love given freely, and a life that pointed always toward her Savior. As she loved to sing, "All the Way My Saviour Leads Me," and so He did, from her first days until her last.