Mrs Joan de Mel
Blended well into our culture
Way back in early 1986 after seeing an ad calling for volunteers, I
walked into Sri Lanka Sumithrayo at Horton Place, wanting to see what
this organization was all about. Social service was nowhere in my head,
as I was a full time office worker with very little time to spare.
I was met at the entrance by a sweet elderly lady who spoke to me in
a gentle voice, asked why I came and had a small chat with me. Then she
told me to walk in and meet the Director and she walked out. That was my
first encounter with our founder, Mrs Joan de Mel. Little did I realize
that she was quietly giving me the "once over" and that she apparently
approved of what she saw.
Now 23 years later I am still with the organisation and what I have
gained by way of personal growth is immeasurable. At our first training
session Joan spoke to us about the Rev. Chad Varah, Founder of
Samaritans in the UK and how she came to be with us. What struck me most
was her unassuming ways and that she seemed to have blended so well into
our culture. Often she was in a saree and sometimes she even wore a
lungi. At some stage Joan also took the trouble to learn to use a word
processor - not a Computer! One of her pet ideas was to see the Centre
kept open as long as possible during the day with at least two shifts.
At her memorial service in Kurunegala on the 17th of January we heard
how she worked with the rural community there, after her marriage to the
Rt. Rev. Lakdasa de Mel and learning the language of the country. I know
that she could speak Sinhala and did so, if she wanted to make herself
clear to someone, the gardener or a household helper.
Time flew and Joan had various mishaps and had to use a walking stick
but that did not prevent this gritty lady from doing her duty turn each
week and attending various occasions as the Patron of Sri Lanka
Sumithrayo.
In November last year I heard that she had another fall. This time
she apparently realised that she would not be able to walk again.
After that I think she gave up and made up her mind to go with
dignity.
I visited her for the last time on the day she was expecting her son
to come and she was quite lucid.
She even thanked me for coming to see her. How many of us can do all
she did and at the end decide "I have done my best for society" and bow
out gracefully. What a lot Sri Lanka has to be thankful for.
Manel Wanasinghe Sumithrayo Panadura
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