RIP – MAUREEN RAYMOND (1937-2024) – By Upali Obeyesekere – Toronto, Canada
A Life Well Lived for Others!
The phrase, “She came, she saw, she conquered,” is popularly attributed to Julius Caesar – but the phrase has also been used in poetry and literature to convey the idea of someone’s irresistible power or influence. Such a person was Maureen Raymond who passed away in her sleep at home in Burlington on Saturday, July 20. It was family and core group of old friends and new who bid farewell to 86-year-old Maureen at Smith’s Funeral Homes in Burlington. Here was a lady who went totally out of her way to help many people in many ways lying still at the Funeral Home while eulogies poured out with her kindness, passion for culinary arts, selflessness, and the numerous sacrifices she made for others.
Heather Maureen De Alwis married James Raymond (Jimmy) of Nugegoda back in Sri Lanka. It was an office romance that started it all as both worked at the well-known mercantile firm J.L. Morrisons. The couple emigrated to Canada in 1972 and made Toronto their adopted home. They lived in Don Mills, a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood in Toronto for several decades. During this time, Maureen and Jimmy worked as a team. Despite having limited time at hand due to employment, the couple embarked on helping many a newcomer from Sri Lanka settle-down in Canada. At times, going to the extent of providing accommodation at their home temporarily until the newcomers found their feet. From the Don Mills area, Jimmy and Maureen moved to the City of Burlington – in Halton Region and 57 kms by road from Toronto in the new millennium.
Maureen and Jimmy were founding members of the Connections Fifty-Five Social Club in Toronto, along with Shelley & Pam Blake, Lyall & Sylvia Bakelmun, Robin & Anne Rode, Claude & Maureen Young, Archie & Daphne Keil, and few others. This group catered to those Sri Lankans in Toronto who were over 55 years of age. The get-togethers and Annual Dances organized by this group were events that the community looked forward to patronizing.
Jimmy was a founding member of the Toronto-based Joint Josephian-Peterite Alumni Association of Canada (JPAA Canada) since 1984, the first Schools’ Alumni Association from Sri Lanka that was formed in Canada. Maureen joined the spouses of the founding committee to manage the catering for these events – socials, cricket matches, dances, etc. All this was done on a volunteer basis with Maureen in charge of operations. She was meticulous in her work that provided top quality short eats to the delight of the hundreds of Sri Lankans who came for these events.
Selfless community work is a powerful force that strengthens our bonds and uplifts society. It’s about putting the well-being of others ahead of our own, especially during challenging times1. Let me share an inspiring example with you: Shelagh Paul (nee Paternott), wife of Royal College, Up-Country, and All Ceylon Ruggerite Keith Paul related an inspiring story to me after hearing about Maureen’s demise. “My Dad died one year after we migrated to Canada and Maureen and Jimmy were going for a Dance with friends who visited from New Jersey in the U.S. in 1989. Maureen dropped everything and came to comfort me and be with me. bringing sandwiches.” This is testimony to Maureen Raymond’s selfless personality that stamps her as an absolutely wonderful person who lived amongst us.
OBITUARY: Maureen Raymond – Beloved wife of James (Jimmy) Raymond. Loving mother to Ron De Silva (Anne Doyle) and the late Yohan De Silva. Cherished “Archie” to Samantha (Matthew), Katie, and Jonathan. Great-Archie to Hunter. Maureen is predeceased by her siblings Daphne De Alwis, Norah De Alwis, and Rev. Maxwell De Alwis. She will be remembered by her sisters Virginia (Martin) Kavanaugh, Barbara (Doug) De Alwis, and Marcia Van Houten.
Jimmy and Maureen Raymond have family in Australia, Canada, and Sri Lanka. Maureen’s coterie of friends in Toronto joins the others in bidding a fond farewell to a gracious person who made an indelible mark in the lives of other Sri Lankans in Toronto by her selfless community work done to make this world a better place for all.
May Maureen’s precious soul Rest in Eternal Peace!
