RudraniAmmayi - In memory

After a lifetime of pain and suffering, Rudrani Ammayi finally passed away on 11/10/2006.Born in 1953 as Rebecca Flynn, she originally hailed from Nova Scotia Canada.

Two major things in her life are her faith and her struggle with her disabilities.

Early in her life as a young woman, she was involved in horrific car accident, which resulted in disabilities that plagued her and racked her body with pain for the rest of her life. But in spite of al that, she was always cheerfull, brave and devout. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna having accepted the Vaishnavism faith brought to the west by Srila Prabhupada.

My earliest memories of her are way back in the mid 1980’s when I was myself a young boy in the 6^th or 7^th grade visiting my home during the vacations. At that time, I would accompany Sukumaramman, himself a Krishna devotee to Rudrani’s home for their weekly pujas. Perhaps the biggest attraction for a young boy was the delicious coconut burfi’s and other prasadam items. But other than that, was the fact that she was so genuinely affectionate even at that time.

Later, she became my aunt, when she married Sukumaramman, and I couldn’t have been happier that she was now my relative.

They then went to Canada in the late 1980’s. Both of them were frail, my uncle had several health problems of his own and was a survivor of multiple surgeries. Ammayi’s companion of several years, Santha was there to accompany them and take care of her every need with tender loving care.

In Vancouver Canada, living as part of the ISKCON community there, their devotion poured out in the tender care of the Tulsi plants at the temple. The plants flourished in 2 large green houses under their care. Details of this endeavor can be found here –

http://btg.krishna.com/main.php?id=862

Years and years of pain and suffering finally drew to a close. Her frail body could no longer take the effects of the years of wear and tear and all the medication that she had been forced to take. But her mind was as sharp as ever. Surrounded by her husband, siblings, Santa, and other loved ones, she continued to comfort them and advice them philosophically. Finally in palliative care, heavily sedated, after years of torture, her body finally held no more pain. As the last moment drew near, she awoke, held the hands of her beloved Santha and said “do you see Tulsi Devi”. After years of devotion, had her beloved Tulsi Devi herself arrived perhaps, to escort her devotee on her final journey? Loudly she chanted her beloved Maha mantra invoking Lord Krishna and gracefully passed away.

Rudrani Ammayi – you will be missed.

http://vancouver.iskcon.ca/rudrani.htm