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George’s income was not very high, but they lived very well, depending on Providence
and on the talents of George. Theyamma made it a point to go home whenever the
occasion called for, regardless of the cost. These visits kept her in touch with all the joys
and sorrows of the family.

On February 19, 1950 was born the eldest of three daughters of Theyamma . She was
named Mary, but she is universally known as Memmy. Memmy grew up among the
loving members of the Kalluvelil and Madayanakavil families. Much of her early
schooling was in Kaipuzha. And she went along with her parents and picked up
languages and friends. Nimmy was born on March 29, 1960. Soumy, the youngest was
born on June 15, 1963. Memmy continued her higher education in Bhilai. On July 17
July, 1972 she was married to Thomas Arackal of Kaipuzha. If there are milestones in the
lives of families, this marriage was one such happy milestone. Thommachan (as he is
called) has business in his genes. He had been dabbling in various businesses in Bombay
at the time of the marriage. Soon after their wedding, oil boom took place, and the
Middle East beckoned. Thommachan was one of the first to jump at the opportunity. He
went to United Arab Emirites. After having worked for a period of time for one of the
Arab businessmen, he set up business for himself. He has done very well. But he has also
helped several cousins of Memmy to land in U.A.E. It was his inititial help that has made
it possible for several of our families to have their children in the Middle East, and to
earn good incomes. Thommachan is devoted to his in laws. He insisted that Theyamma
and George live in Bombay when the latter took early retirement from Bhilai Steel
Mines. He took his father in law for a short period of time to work in U.A.E. As for
Theyamma, she has been to U.A.E. several times. Memmy was blessed with twins on
March 12, 1987. As for Nimmy, she inherited her father’s genius and her mother’s
smoothness. After graduating from high school in Bhilai, she was admitted into the
Regional Engineering College in Kozhikode, where she was a brilliant student and a
leader. She graduated summa cum laude, and married Babu Kollapally. They too are in
United Arab Emirites. Sowmy, the youngest of the three completed her higher studies in
Bombay, went to U.A.E. and is married to Philip Pillaveettil, of Delhi.

Theyamma’s sojourn in Bombay was a contrast to Bhilai. Whereas hardly anyone of her
near and dear ones came to Bhilai to visit her, Moonlight Apartments in Bombay became
a stopping station for everybody. And Theyamma enjoyed being the perfect hostess. In
addition to her chores, she was involved in the Catholic activities of the parish, and in the
formation of the new Syro Malabar Diocese of Kalyan. She had, as everywhere else,
scores of friends of all denominations. She had always been in correspondence with all
her people. In fact letter-writing was a special gift that Theyamma had developed early
on. Her letters were, and continue to be, chatty, informative and encouraging. And she
did not neglect her folks during those hectic years. Just as she had spent the last few
weeks of her Kunjanja’s life at his bedside, she was at her father’s bedside, preparing him
through tears. She kept vigil as her mother lay dying. In 1992 when her eldest sister died,
Theyamma was there.

For nearly two decades George and Theyamma lived in the crowded and busy

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