3 min learnThiruvananthapuramUp to date: Aug 26, 2026 10:42 AM IST
Vedic chants echoed in the home of a Christian priest in Kerala’s Ernakulam district on Monday. Ritualistic lamps have been lit, a Hindu priest learn out mantras, and the courtyard was full of individuals — each neighbours in addition to guests who had come from far-off locations to pay their respects.
All of them had gathered on the Onasseril home for the final rites of Parvathi alias Payamma, a home employee on the home of Father O J Jacob, an Orthodox Church Christian priest, at Chottanikkara.
Payamma died on Sunday evening on the age of 88 – after having served the Jacob household for 26 years. She was a Hindu lady.
To honour her, the Jacobs determined to carry a ceremony, based on Hindu rituals, earlier than her physique was taken to the cremation floor.
“She stayed with us during the last 26 years and had progressively was a member of the home,’’ mentioned Father Jacob.
Having misplaced her dad and mom on the age of 9, Parvathi labored as a home maid for over three a long time earlier than she got here throughout the Jacobs in 2000. At the moment, the household was coping with a tragedy of its personal.
Joined by a tragedy
Father Jacob’s spouse had handed away, leaving a six-year-old daughter, Merin, in his care. In Parvathi, Merin discovered a mom determine. And within the Jacob household, Parvathi discovered a house that had eluded her for years.
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Mentioned Father Jacob, “Parvathi had labored as a maid in numerous homes for greater than 35 years when she joined us. She sorted my daughter over time. My daughter used to name her Payamma, which was a lovingly shortened type of her identify Parvathi.”
Throughout Merin’s marriage ceremony, Parvathi stood by her facet on the church, taking over the position of a mom.
Parvathi fell ailing every week again and had been below palliative care until she breathed her final. Her last rites on the home of Father Jacob have been carried out by her distant family members as per the standard Hindu manner.
A mom determine for all
Chottanikkara panchayat member Aleena George mentioned that not simply Merin, Parvathi had was a mom determine for all the youngsters within the space within the final 20 years.
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“All of us known as her Payamma as a substitute of Parvathi. Orphaned as a toddler, the lady had change into inseparably shut with the household’s life, particularly that of the daughter she had lovingly raised. Scores of ladies from the area, who had grown up within the heat and affection of Payamma, returned on Monday to bid her a last farewell,” mentioned Aleena.
