Therese Gunawardena Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

GUNAWARDENA ?Therese Beatrice Iranganie (Ira) Therese, known to her family and friends as Ira was born in, Colombo, Sri Lanka on May 5, 1936 to the late Basil and Beryl Perera. She was the 2nd daughter born into a family of 5 siblings. Ira was a curious, feisty, and adventurous little girl who was enormously caring, generous, fearless, and a bit of a tomboy. She was very close in age and in mischievous spirit to her younger brother Anton with whom she enjoyed many escapades, which in later years she would recount in vivid detail to her children, nieces, and nephews to much laughter. She loved traveling and meeting new people and at various stages in her life lived for several years in England and Dubai (the United Arab Emirates), finally moving to Austin, Texas in her later years. Ira was a keen and brilliant student with a passion for geography and the law but her goal of attaining a University Degree was cut short when she lost her beloved father at sixteen and was compelled to work to support her family. Nevertheless, she pursued higher study independently while she worked and her thirst for knowledge never waned even in her later years. She joined a leading publishing company in Sri Lanka where she met the great love of her life Denzil who was absolutely smitten with her. She obtained membership in the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators, London, U.K. and at the peak of her career managed the operations of several companies in Sri Lanka including a hotel, publishing enterprise, and a recruitment agency. She also worked as a senior executive for several corporations in Dubai overseeing their financial operations. Ira married her ?St. Joseph? Denzil on June 15th 1960 and she said on numerous occasions that those early years of their marriage were some of the happiest times of her life. Ira, the bubbly, outgoing, larger-than-life young woman and her beloved shy, kind, and gentle husband Denzil were the perfect match and they enjoyed an extraordinarily close and loving partnership for 53 years. The birth of their two daughters Therese (Priya) and Sue completed their happiness. Their daughters, who Ira unabashedly adored, were her great pride and joy. She was their dedicated protector, ardent champion, and most vocal cheerleader and she was a source of constant emotional support to them well into their adulthood. She also dearly loved her many nieces and nephews who she treated as her own. She also never failed to remind them about the importance of social justice and the need to practice Christian kindness to all, especially those who were marginalized in society. Ira?s parents who had been raised Anglican and converted to Catholicism in adulthood were devout Roman Catholics and Ira was herself a strong practicing Catholic who lived Christ?s teachings of love and charity each and every day. Ira managed to balance a packed work and social schedule while serving for 18 years as a Religious Educator at St. Mary?s Catholic Church, Dubai, where she was adored by all her students, their parents, nuns, and priests who encountered her. In 2005, after they had formally retired, Ira along with her beloved Denzil made the decision to move to the United States so that they could be closer to their daughters and made Austin their home. Ira?s younger daughter Sue had attended school in Austin and they had visited her frequently over the years and loved the warmth of the climate as well as the people. Ira was a member of St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, where she served as a Religious Educator for several years. Ever devoted to the Holy Blessed Virgin, she also founded and led a Rosary Group among the Sri Lankan Catholic community, which is now one of her many enduring legacies. Ira lived her faith to the fullest and was a shining example of what it means to be a true Christian. She was loving, thoughtful, selfless, and one of the most kind-hearted individuals who would always notice those that were downtrodden, unloved, or excluded, and she would always draw them in with her wonderful big smile. She was someone who filled the room as soon as she entered it and made the world such a better place with her laughter, kindness, and generosity. Those qualities made an indelible mark on all who met Ira and her family is now bereft with the loss of their darling ?Ammie.? Ira, you are with the angels now and we know that you will be looking down on all of us and saying a rosary on our behalf. May you rest in eternal peace and protect us always. A Service of remembrance and thanksgiving will be held at St. Albert The Great Catholic Church, Austin, Texas on Monday, August 19th at 6:30 pm and in Colombo, Sri Lanka, details to follow shortly. The family also expresses its deep gratitude to the medical personnel of Brackenridge Hospital,especially the wonderful nurses who were our darling Ammie?s angels during her final days. Memorial donations may be made to The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition(www.ovarian.org) or the Sri Lanka Cancer Society. Messages of condolences may be mailed to: Mr. Denzil Gunawardena 12900 Widge Drive Austin, Texas, TX 78727 U.S.A.

Therese Gunawardena

May 5, 1936 - July 26, 2013