More photos of the final days and funeral

When my sister Beaula, who lives in Tampa, Florida, heard about dad's illness, she returned to Sri Lanka in late May. Dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer on June 3.

In late May, dad was still strong enough to sit in the front yard after being taken there on the wheel chair.

With Beaula in early June

With two of his nieces, Delphine (on his right) and Marie (on his left). Delphine is his sister Kate's daughter, and Marie sister Rosie's. Delphine was on a visit from the UK.

I arrived late at night on June 13. This photo was taken around midnight.

Dad with his children

With his friend Justin Fernanado. Justin formed a close friendship with dad about two years ago. He was a frequent visitor and, despite being a busy businessman, spent much time with him, taking him on doctor's and hospital visits, lifting him on to the wheel chair, and in and out of bed.

Roy, dad's first grandson, arrived on June 16. Dad was fond of Roy and was laughing and joking with Roy.

From left: Roy, Beaula, dad, me

Fawzia praying at dad's bedside

Pius uncle with his wife Rita. Pius, who resided with Aunty Rosie's family, knew the history of the Braine family from the early 1950s. He is one of dad's last contemporaries still alive. The others are my mother's siblings Cecil and Irene.

Bandara ("Bandaiya" to us) keeping vigil. He is Marie's husband an, in the absence of Beaula and me, took good care of our parents

Champa and her daughter singing Methodist hymns. Champa is the daughter of my my mother's cousin Millie aunty. My mother was born a Methodist.



More Methodist hymns

Pearl, my mother's niece, who had taken care of dad during the last days. Going back 40 years, my mother's relatives were often in our home. Pearl first arrived in the 1960s.

The graveyard (Kanatte) in Borella, Colombo, where our parents are buried. It's a tranquil place in the midst of the dust and noise of Colombo.

Photos of the final days and funeral

Taken about a month before dad passed away. Beaula is on his right and niece Marie (from Boralessa) is on the left. Niece Delphine (daughter of his sister Kate) is in front.

These two photos were taken about three weeks before dad passed away.

With Roy on July 1. Roy was visiting from the USA.

With Beaula. She had arrived in late May from the USA and was with dad throughout his final days.

At home in Seeduwa

Fawzia

Visitors from Ambakelle, where dad managed an estate for the Coconut Research Institute in the 1960s

July 8 morning. Fr. Jayamanne and Fr. Rodrigo from St. Anthony's Church at the final blessing

Relatives singing Methodist hymns

July 8 morning. With Beaula

Beaula and Mrs. G.M. Fernando

Casket being carried to the gravesite at Kanatte, in Borella, Colombo. Relative Chryshantha and nephew Charlie are in front. The cortege left the house at 10am and reached Kanatte, a drive of about 20 kms, at 11.00.

The casket was opened at the grave site for a final viewing

Beaula's friend Swarna, cousin Marie, Rani, and Deepi (Charlie's wife). At the back is Latha, dad's faithful domestic helper for four years.

Charlie, Bandara, and musician Victor Ratnayake

Lalitha (Beaula's sister-in-law) with son Shan

After a short prayer, four hymns were sung, two in Sinhala followed by "Amazing Grace" and "Nearer my God to thee"

A final glimpse of the casket

Mervin Karunaratne, a family friend, delivering the eulogy in English. The Sinhala eulogy was delivered by cousin Gemunu Athula.

Beaula at the grave

Me at the grave

Fawzia lighting a candle

Prasanna, a close friend of my parents

Bandara, me, and musician Victor R.

With classmates from St. Mary's, Chilaw. Sarath Abeysinghe, Sharmaline Cooray and her husband Victor. Sarath and Sharmaline were my classmates in the mid-1960s.

Beaula with Mrs. G.M. Fernando and daughter Indrani. Mrs. F'do has been a family friend for more than 50 years. She and my mother worked at the Negombo Hospital in the late 1950s.

Fawzia, her sister-in-law Chandra, daughter Malki, Gihan, & Fati

Beaula, me, Victor, & classmates

Chryshantha and Sunil, a friend of Beaula's

Cousin Pearl, Anton (who helped with dad in the final days) & Prasanna


Cousin Gemunu Athula, who took the photos of the funeral

Dad passed away

Teddy Braine passed away on July 6, 2009. He had been complaining of a pain on the right side of the hip for some time, but, despite a hospital stay, no proper diagnosis had been made. A CT scan on June 3 revealed advanced cancer, starting on the pelvic bone. My sister Beaula had arrived in late May and took loving care of him in the final days, the best any parent could have. I arrived in mid-June. We were with him when he passed away. Fawzia and Roy had also seen him recently. Dad went with dignity and in peace.

He was 83, and was buried at Kanatte, in Borella, in the family plot where his father-in-law Walter George Fernando and his wife Adline Fernie Beatrice Braine are also buried.

I'll be posting photos of the funeral. As for the blog, a few more excerpts of dad's autobiography remain to be uploaded.


June 2008. Dad singing along with Gihan at Chilaw.