MAURINE FERNANDO – 100TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY – 24th February, 2023

My earliest memories of Aunty Maurine are from my childhood when I was in Sunday School. Although she didn’t teach in Sunday School (to the best of my knowledge) she was always involved in catering for Sunday School events (like the annual Christmas party etc). We were very blessed to be able to partake of her mouth-watering culinary delights in the form of short-eats and sweets, on these occasions.

I also vividly recollect her famous Cake Stall at the Annual Church Sale – at which one could purchase some of her delectable cakes or pastries. The Church Sales would not have been complete without it! My recollection was always one of a beautiful, gracious lady who poured so much love into her creations. She always greeted you with her kind and genial smile, and made you feel very welcome. This was especially true of the many times we were invited to birthday parties for one of her family members when we were given the royal treatment with the food served being “fit for a king”.

The annual Church carol-singing event was another memorable occasion. These were times when, having enjoyed ourselves visiting and singing carols at the houses of church members (and others who had requested our visits), we always ended up at Aunty Maurine’s house in the “wee hours” of the morning, tired and hungry, to be regaled with a much-appreciated breakfast of yummy kiri-bath with all the wonderful accompaniments.

Before I finish telling you about her skills in the comestibles area, it would be remiss of me not to mention what I believe was her “world-class” kalu-dodol! Trust me, I have tasted many versions of this Sri Lankan delight, in no less than four different countries, and have yet to taste anything as exquisite as Aunty Maurine’s KD (as my husband Jim likes to call it) which literally melted in your mouth! I was also treated, one day, to the privilege of watching her sit in front of the pan, stirring her love into it along with the ingredients, while she made the delicious wonder! I can still taste it!

We at the Wellawatte Methodist Church were also blessed to have Aunty Maurine as one of our Church Leaders. In this capacity, she gave us the benefit of making decisions that would assuredly have positively influenced the life of our church.

Last, but by no means least, I remember her serving as a valuable member of the Church Choir, where she presided over the front row singing Soprano, with her bosom buddy, Mrs Mavis Bandara. She would be at Choir practice, come rain or come shine, faithfully every week. I know my mother, for one, as Choir Mistress, really appreciated her selfless contribution.

It was indeed a sad day for us all when we learned of her passing, and suffice it to say, the world was indeed a poorer place when she left it on 17th February. Her family was indeed shocked and devastated when this kind and generous lady was no longer with them. In fact, every single one of us who were honoured to have known her, and were blessed to have been part of her circle of friends, suffered a great loss on that day. However, we can all take comfort in the fact that she had gone to be with the Lord she served so faithfully throughout her life.

May her memory live on always in all our hearts and minds.

Maeve Buultjens.
Sydney, Australia.