A Tribute: Laurell Caspersz Touched The Hearts Of Everyone She Met – By Lawrence Machado
Laurell Caspersz nee Cramer was a very special person. Blessed with a keen sense of humour, tremendous faith, love for her family and a selfless nature which made people gravitate to her, Laurell was a blessing to all those who had the honour of knowing her.
She was one of the loveliest people that I knew and I am glad we had many memorable times chatting and sharing stories or memories back in Sri Lanka or here in Australia. Coincidentally as it so happens with Sri Lankans anywhere in the world, we had many common friends or knew a family member.
If you visited Aunty Laurell, you never left her charming home without a cuppa, snacks or a meal, sweets and if you wanted, a spirit or a wine to accompany the food. She had stacks of cooked food in her fridge and freezer, and it would not take her long to warm some for you. She knew my wife Roshan loved dhal and soup, and made sure I was given some to take home for her.
Aunty Laurell and my mother-in-law Praema (nee Goonesekera) were close friends going back to their days being neighbours in Dehiwela. They would chat for hours about their family and friends, sharing laughs and memories while remembering their mutual friends.
What was even amazing during their conversations was that both were hard of hearing but seemed to understand each other very well!! I am happy they were reunited in Sydney after so many years apart as their close friendship and affection for each other was obvious. Their eyes and faces lit up when they always met.
Aunty Laurell had an amazing memory and regaled everyone, even on her hospital bed during her last days with wonderful stories and anecdotes.
Aunty Laurell , who passed away in June 2024, aged 93, lived a rich and fruitful life, which touched the lives of countless people. She and her husband Milburn (who died in 2003) never stopped helping people and cared about those who were less fortunate than them.
A housewife with amazing cooking, knitting and sewing skills in Ceylon, Aunty Laurell worked for many years in Sydney after the family migrated to Australia in the 1970s. She and her sister Marita also opened a very successful Sri Lankan restaurant in Granville for many years, with their husbands, Milburn and Ian Forbes plus other family members helping out. It was one of the most popular Lankan restaurants for years.
Her daughters, Desiree, Jennie and Gail, have inherited her love and flair for cooking among other things, and are a very close family unit. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren and was heartbroken when her great grandson Kyan was tragically killed in a freak accident in January 2022. She never really recovered from this and fittingly, Kyan’s hauntingly-beautiful recording of the theme from the movie Amelie was played at her funeral at Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Church, Wentworthville, her local parish.
Laurell was the beloved eldest sister of the late Joan De Silva, Carl Cramer, Errol Cramer, Peter Cramer and of Arlene John and Marita Forbes.
Rest in peace dearest Laurell. Your legacy will live on through your family and many friends.
OBITUARY
Caspersz– Laurell (nee Cramer) passed away on June 7, 2024. Loving eldest daughter of Carl and Bertha Cramer. Dearly beloved wife of late Milburn Caspersz. Loving Mother and Mother in law of Desiree and Stuart McKinnon, Jennifer and David Churchill and Gail. Much loved sister of late Joan De Silva, Carl Cramer, Errol Cramer, Peter Cramer and of Arlene John and Marita Forbes. Much loved grandmother of Amanda Brierley, John Churchill, Ross Churchill, Alexander McKinnon, Liana Taylor and Jarrod Taylor. Cherished great grandmother of late Kyan Pennell, Jacob Churchill, Lauryn Pennell, Hudson Churchill, Scarlett Churchill, Easton Churchill and Zion Churchill. Her funeral was held in Sydney, Australia on June 20, 2024.
