Mrs. Shyami Thevathasan was affectionately called Shyami Teacher in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Born on July 1, 1934, to Charles and Isabel Rajasingham, she was the 2nd of four children, including, Bubsy Kitto, Sam, and Caleb Rajasingham. She had a happy childhood on their 300-acre coconut farm along the Indian Ocean in Sri Lanka. She married Kandiah Thevathasan in 1961 and had two sons: Naresh and Ajith Thevathasan. She was the mother-in-law of Kayalvili Thevathasan and grandmother of Naythrah and Isaac Thevathasan.
Shyami was a certified English teacher, who held a diploma in English Speech and Drama from the Trinity College of London, England. She won the Queen’s Guide award in 1951, and represented Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), in Australia in 1951. The Queen's Guide award is the highest attainable award for Girl Guides. She taught at the BT / Vincent Girl’s High School, and later founded the Wendy Whatmore Academy of Speech and Drama, Batticaloa Branch, which she managed for over 20 years. The academy is still in business with over 200 students and 8 teachers.
She had a very generous heart and was a cheerful giver. In this context, she built two houses for two needy girls and helped many in the church in Sri Lanka. She also generously contributed to the Lord’s work. She loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart, and cared for the Lord’s servants with utmost respect and love. Her most loved ones were her two grandchildren, Naythrah and Isaac.
Shyami looked after Naythrah for more than one year in Sri Lanka, and celebrated Naythrah’s first birthday with joy. She crowned her with a crown, stating, ‘The Queen of 1993’. In Canada, she affectionately looked after her second grandchild, Isaac, and provided whatever he asked for — even ice cream for breakfast!
In 1996, she moved to Guelph, Canada, and lived with her son and daughter-in-law until September 2017, when she moved to the St. Joseph’s Health Care facility. She died on April 23, 2018, and is survived by her brother C.C Rajasingham, her son Naresh (Kayal) and her grandchildren, Naythrah and Isaac.
Amma, Grandma, good bye for now until we meet again in heaven.