Dr Zita Subasinghe (23 Aug 1940 - 5 Oct 2022)

A great woman, an epic Doctor, and an amazing friend. Zits will be truly missed by all who knew her and I'm honoured to have been a friend of hers. Thank-you for the bright light you shined on us all.

I first met, both Zita and Nisha at an art class l was giving, in West Sussex. That was in 2019, and l was immediately aware that here were two lovely, genuine, caring ( and talented ) people.
Fast forward to 2022, when Nisha and l were married, and l felt so privileged to be able to call
Zita my mother in law, and to become part of the family.
She was truly a wonderful person, ( and with a brilliant sense of humour ).
She was also a lovely Grandmother to my daughter Chloe.
We will both miss her.
I know her passing leaves a huge space, particularly for my Father in law Joe, Nisha and Rohan. My love and prayers go out to them and al who have known and loved Zita.
Mark

We would like to thank everyone who came to or watched the funeral yesterday. It was lovely to hear peoples tributes and memories of mum at the wake afterwards. We of course missed those who couldn't make the event but we know that you were all there in spirit.

To Joe, Rohan, Nisha & families
Zita was a special lady who thought of others at all times. I am privileged to have been her friend for so many years. Have enjoyed many special times with her & Joe and enjoyed meals, days out including my trip to Sri Lanka in 2009. She was very creative and talented and am proud to say have special keepsakes which she has made and given me over the years. Her legacy will live on through her family. Rest in peace Zita, will miss you but never forgotten.

Dearest Uncle Joe, Nisha Akki, Rohi and family,

Aunty Zita will be so dearly missed by us all.



She was a phenomenal lady who lead with her heart. She soared to great heights professionally and was multi talented! She achieved so much however, it is who she was that speaks even more.



Her humility, generosity, patience, courage, fortitude, determination, cheerfulness, spirit of service and positivity shone through always. Her love and devotion to Uncle Joe and and the whole family was such beautiful example to all of us. She was drawn to what is good, true and beautiful and that manifests in all the hearts she has touched, all her art, music and poetry! Not to mention her work ethic!



I have always admired her and felt her affection and I am proud to call her my Aunt. Thank you for sending me her poetry book. I was so moved to see her handwriting! I look forward to sharing the book with my girls over the years.

Though I could not meet her recently, she always communicated her love, warmth and encouragement with such sincerity that the distance never mattered.

Eternal rest grant unto her Lord and let Your perpetual light shine upon her, may she Rest In Peace. 

All our love and prayers,

Nish 



Deepest sympathies may she rest in peace amen

We are so sorry hear this sad news. She’s such a kind and lovely soul. It was our privilege to know Zita and will be in our hearts forever.

Thinking of you and your family at this hard time.

May she rest in peace.

Love Madhu, Sugi and family

Dear Rohan and family,

I remember Aunty’s joy and selflessness. She was a beautiful person - throughout. Eternal rest grant unto her soul and may perpetual light shine upon her.

May you find comfort in each other, knowing that she touched so many lives. God be with you all - “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy”.

Stacy

It was a privilege to know Zita with whom I have had a long association from our medical school days until her passing. She was sincere considerate,loving and giving. Even in the midst of her afflictions ,she would write,asking for prayers for others in need.Such a beautiful soul! My sincere sympathies to Joe and the family. May Zita's soul Rest in Peace.

I first met Zita akka over 35 years ago when my sister got married to Joe aiya's brother.
I still remember visiting your home in Colombo. For some unknown unique reason I still remember the tone of
her voice though I cannot remember the last time I saw Zita akka .
She was a very gentle refined lady.
Rest in peace Zita akka till we meet again.
Naomi (Ruth's sister)

TRIBUTE TO AKKA

Akka (Elder Sister) was a sister, mother, father and friend, indeed. The only sister among thirteen (13) siblings, mother and father, to brothers when both Mummy and Daddy passed away in their mid-fifties, and friend to the family, her patients and anyone in need, indeed. If I may sum up her life, it was Love, Compassion and Selflessness, a 3 in 1 virtue.

Her skills were phenomenal. Professionally an Ophthalmologist (most people knew her as an Eye Surgeon) she was a Poet, a Writer, Singer, Musician (Piano, Guitar, etc.), Painter, Linguist, Social Worker, a Philosopher and most of all a Family Person, all in one. During my student days, I had a misconception that Medical Doctors were a lot, fully absorbed or even blinkered in the medical subject and nothing else. Later on, looking at Akka and some of her Batch Mates I realized how wrong I was and that Doctors are fully fledged persons like other people. I recall that during her Medical College days, I used to chaperone her for “Socials” which were held time to time.

At the age of fifteen (15) she, along with her cousin sister Shirley (younger to her and who later became a Nun) published a periodical in her home town styled “Companion”. At the age of twenty (20), she was a Founder Member of the Hank Snow Fan Club, the well-known American Country Singer and published the Journal of the Club and organized Musical Events. As an Ophthalmologist, back in Sri Lanka (she insisted to bring her family back to the Mother Country to give them an inkling of our own culture), she volunteered to work at Galle Hospital so that she could be of service to rural folk and when she established the Laser Unit of the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital (Colombo), I am personally aware that she spent some of her personal funds to get it going. Professionally she never “made money”. What she earned, she shared with the less fortunate.

At the untimely death of my Elder Brother Kenneth Aiya (the sibling in-between both of us), she was devastated and heart broken. Within a few days, she sublimated her sorrows and played on the Piano at home, the beautiful Christian Song “The Old Rugged Cross” as Joe Aiya recalls. That was her resilience! Akka had an open mind about everything. When a few years ago, I was doing research and compiling a book “Healthy Living with Nature”, Akka encouraged me enormously and was keen to see a copy. I was able to email a copy to her just a few weeks before her demise.

I thank all the other contributors to the tribute to her. For the moment, I will refrain with that immortal song, which she loved “In the Sweet by and by, We shall meet on that Beautiful Shore”.

From Ron Mallie

Dearest Nisha,
We were very saddened to hear the passing of your dear mother. May you have the strength and courage to get through this difficult time and may the wonderful memories of your mom comfort you and ease you pain. Much love, Risini, Nalaka & Shalini