In Loving Memory of Marjorie (Margie) Marina Puvimannasinghe

Marjorie Puvimannasinghe

She was the only daughter of the late Stanley and Josephine Saverimuttu, and cherished sister of the late Clary Saverimuttu, carrying their legacy of love throughout her life. Educated at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena, she married Bede Puvimannasinghe, Teacher & Prefect of Games, St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena.

The couple were blessed with two daughters, Chryshanthi and Lilanthi. Her husband’s untimely demise when the girls were very young left Marjorie to raise them alone — a loss she faced with remarkable courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith in God and Mother Mary.

The Irish nuns of Good Shepherd Convent were pillars of strength for her during this time, and it was under their guidance that she began teaching at the Convent that same year, going on to serve there for over 25 years until her retirement in 1995. She carried on her service to the school as a life member of the Past Pupils Association and the Association of Past Teachers. 

She continued her teaching at Bhurani Serendib International School, Bambalapitiya for a further 6 years, and later joined CALSDA continuing there until 2020 — completing 51 years of dedicated service before the pandemic finally brought her remarkable career to a close. 

To generations of students, she was far more than a teacher: a mentor, a second mother, and a guiding light who taught not just subjects but compassion, curiosity, and resilience — inspiring many of her own students to take up teaching themselves.

She was equally a treasured presence in the homes of close family and friends, where her warmth ,lovely smile, laughter, and affection were always welcomed, and was renowned for her joy in cooking, — proudly declaring “all made at home” as she fed all who gathered around her table.

As a grandmother and great-grandmother, she remained the heart that held the family together across continents — cherished family trips to Sri Lanka, visits to Botswana, and singalong road trips loaded with her cooking and filled with her laughter. No matter what the distance, she stayed close, always calling to check in and even learning to text so she would never lose touch as the family grew and scattered.

She was a steady source of strength through the family’s hardest chapters, and just months before her passing, she had the joy of meeting her great-grandchildren, a memory the family will treasure forever.

A devoted parishioner of St. Lawrence’s Church, Wellawatte for 57 years, she served faithfully as a parish councillor and was one of the first Eucharistic Ministers appointed by the Archdiocese of Colombo. She was a passionate member of the Sacred Heart Sodality. Faith was the foundation of her life, shaping her character and the way she treated others — if someone needed help, she was there; if someone was struggling, she offered comfort and support.

Above all, she was a devoted and loving mother to her two daughters: Chryshanthi Alfred (wife of the late Jeyendiran Alfred) and Lilanthi Puvimannasinghe (Former State Bank of India). She was equally adored as a proud grandmother to Praveen and his wife Sangeetha, and her beloved granddaughter Prashani, and great-grandmother to Michael and Naomi.

The family is deeply moved by the overwhelming love and support shown to us following the passing of their beloved Ammi, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. To everyone, near and far, who reached out with presence, condolences, flowers, and kind words — their hearts are full of gratitude.

Though our hearts are heavy with sadness, we find comfort in knowing she is now at peace in God’s presence, reunited with those who went before her. Her legacy lives on not in accomplishments or  possessions, but in the lives she touched, the family she nurtured, and the faith and love she so freely gave. She was truly one of a kind — a remarkable woman, a cousin loved by all , Anta to all her nephews and nieces, a beloved teacher, and a true legend to all who knew her. She will live on forever in our hearts, in our stories, and in the countless lives she touched.

“Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near.”  

By Lilanthi Puvimannasinghe,

Chryshanthi Alfred & family