At Ms Devotta's funeral . . .

It was a funeral I chose to attend. After all, Ms Devotta was a senior teacher at our school and held in high esteem by the student community of the 60s and 70s.

Travelling from home in Adyar to Anna Nagar is to cross the city but made more difficult by the work on the new Metro Rail project which also covers Anna Nagar.
Our destination was St Luke's Church that serves this local Catholic community.

Holy Mass had begun at the altar, with four priests at the head. On the other side of the altar lay the coffin of Ms Devotta, surrounded by flower bouquets.

The church was fairly full for the 10 a.m Mass and my simple tribute here was in singing at the Mass. Nearer my God to Thee signalled the end of the Mass and the last journey of Ms Devotta. Family carried the coffin to the Vincent Parker hearse van - it would then head to the local cemetry.

We spotted the late teacher's son Ashok. I also met up with a former shipping engineer who was Ms Devotta's close relation - he told me that the Devotttas hailed from Tuticorin and were one of the earliest residents of Anna Nagar.

From the St Anthony's School community was another senior teacher Ms Kuruvilla who was of Ms Devotta's time; she now lives in Secretariat Colony, Kilpauk.Also Asha Marina and Jacklin, acive alumni assn. members and Charms Ashok. Besides a few from the 1969-'70 batch like Charles Nation.

There were smiles all around - indicative of the person who we had said goodbye too. Ms Devotta had done her job and signed off.