Sunday, December 7, 2025
I am Shampatee, Ramatee’s youngest sister. On behalf of my family, I offer our deepest sympathy to both Vidya and Vitra, on the loss of their mother, and I pray that with the Lord's blessings and all the good memories they have of their Mom, they have the strength to deal with this heart-breaking loss.
Ramatee was twelve years older than me. As in most families, the older siblings were expected to help their mother to take care of the younger ones if the mother was not well or had other engagements. I was fortunate that Ramatee was there when I was a child and the opportunity to feel that she was fully capable of taking care of me with our age difference.
Her journey on this earth was marked by kindness, resilience, and a spirit that touched my heart. This spirit was demonstrated in the form of her caring and affectionate nature that stands out most among the many other qualities she had. One thing I remembered in the very early days of my life is, we used to have a hammock in our house. She would lie on the hammock while I would be resting on her chest as she rocked me to sleep in a very loving and caring way. When I grew older, she got married and moved away from home, but that bond between siblings was not lost. During Summer vacation from school, I would go and spend the time at her home.
As I became a teenager, I became more conscious of fashion and the clothes I wore. I still have a taste for nice clothing. Ramatee used to be a recognized seamstress and she made many of my clothes, as well as that of the entire family. As far as I am aware of, she made all the outfits that our mother wore. Of course, they were very beautiful sets. Although we always felt proud of our mother, seeing her in those outfits made her even more attractive. As time went on, we were all adults, but Ramatee continued to see her younger siblings with the motherly vision of affection and care.
Ramatee also experienced some challenges in life as many of us do at some point, but she was able to recover and grow stronger. Though her physical presence has departed, her legacy endures in the lives she shaped, her resilience and the love she gave.
I will always remember with gratitude the moments we shared, her guidance, love and care. Her presence was a gift, and her absence leaves a space that can never be filled. Though she has left this world, her spirit lives on in the love she showed us, and the memories we will carry forever. Rest peacefully, dear sister. You will always be cherished, always remembered, and always loved.
