Leela Raman

Leela Raman

November 21, 1932 - January 16, 2025

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Obituary

Leela Raman (nee Srinath), known affectionately as Mayu, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2025 in Fitchburg, Wisconsin.


Born in Shivasamudram, Karnataka, India, to Nuggehalli Gopaliyengar Srinath and Laxmi Srinath (nee Rangaswamy), she was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Vatsala and Nirmala, her brother Prabhakar, husband Raman and favorite pets Fred, Rex, and Skip.


She grew up in Bangalore and graduated from Maharani College and joined the workforce to support herself and her family.


She moved to New Delhi where she was a library assistant at the United States Information Service (USIS) and then a Kannada news reader for All India Radio, India’s Public Broadcaster. While in New Delhi she was wooed by her future husband-to-be, Narayan Raman. The couple were married in 1957.


After their marriage she supported her husband as he held various positions in government in different parts of the country before finally settling down in Hyderabad, India. While keeping up a hectic schedule she managed to raise two sons. She doted on them and, after her sons were married, on their spouses as well - often referring to them as the daughters she never had. She always found time to keep in touch with her extended family and was the glue that held them together.


She was active in supporting women’s education and empowerment and loved music and the fine arts. She loved company and politics and if you knew her and are reading this you know what we are talking about. Her adventurous spirit was seen in her prowess at bicycling (winning a state competition while in college), participation in car rallies, and paragliding on a trip to Thailand. She navigated life as skillfully as she did driving her Premier Padmini car in the chaotic traffic in India.


Her husband died in 2022 and her life in the few years prior to his death revolved around caring for him, even more than she had over the years they had been married. Not a day would pass that she wouldn’t remind him, often several times a day, to use his hearing aids. For some reason he didn’t use them, likely because he never heard her.


She moved to the US in 2022 and adjusted to her new life, uprooted rather suddenly from her home, her friends, her prayer group, and the life she knew. She made up for the loss of physical contact with her friends in India by calling them very early in the morning because she knew their schedules and was certain they would be up - this was the only time she could catch them before they got busy with their day.


Her relatives and friends were impressed by how she was always so well put together. She had a beautiful smile, keen sense of humor, and collection of jokes (a seemingly endless supply often fed to her through her WhatsApp contacts) that lit up the room and lifted the spirits of those around her. She cherished her friendships and relationships and if you knew her you knew she loved you and would like you to enjoy life and crack a few jokes while doing so.


Her grandkids were her joy, and her iPad an inseparable companion. Predictive algorithms were no match for her sometimes random access to websites.


As her health failed in the last few months she could not stop wondering why she could not do more. “The mind is willing but the body is not,” she often said. Another of her oft repeated words of wisdom was that it takes two hands to clap. So please take a moment to clap or recognize, in your own way, her remarkable life.


A small private ceremony will be held on Monday, January 20 before her cremation.


In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg (https:// www.agrace.org/), Wisconsin or a charity of your choice.


The family would like to thank all the relatives and friends, her health care providers at SSM Health and the staff at Agrace Hospice. Special thanks to Maria Gonzalez, Srini Ramachandra, Amara Baktha, Lalita Sankaran and Chai.


She is survived by her sons, Vinu (Archana), Bharat (Prasanna); grandsons, Kartik (Kami), Aditya, Anand (Lucy), and Siddharth; Kumari her surrogate daughter, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.


Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.


Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608) 442-5002


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ES
Eshwar Prasad Sitaraman
Other •
Many in Hyderabad thought that the Ramans had three sons, the third being me. She was my second mother(not biological), and deeply loved and cared for me. This feeling was reciprocated by me towards both my aunt(chitthi) Leela and uncle Ramu(chitthappa). Both of them were synonymous of generosity and human kindness. Her adventurous spirit and spontaneous humour made her the cynosure of all eyes. Her beauty and grace were unmatched. I will miss her, but have enough great memories that are indelible in my heart. RIP Leela chitthi.
HH
Harii and Nithya hariharan
Other •
We met her a few times during the last few months and our last visit was on Jan5th 2025. Every visit was memorable and inspiring for the great conversations we had and her insightful and interesting observations. May her soul rest in peace🙏
MM
Minnie Mathew
Other •
I am Mrs Minnie Mathew I AS( Retd) Former Chief Secretary Government of AP.I have had the privilege of meeting Leela Mam on only a few occasions.But I remember her as a very warm and gracious person who could make even very juniors feel at ease . I also remember her as the beautiful better half of one of our most distinguished Chief Secretaries.B N Raman Sir was a very strong, extremely affectionate, considerate and supportive of his junior colleagues. I pay my respectful homage to both of them. May they rest in eternal peace. My condolences to all the bereaved family members.
PK
Pooja Krishnan
Other •
First, thinking of the family and wishing you moments of peace and comfort with the family. Dear Aunty, I feel it as a privilege to have known you and to share a very close bond with you. Our childhood is filled with memories of our weekly outing at your place and being pampered by delicacies. I have idolised you as a child and learnt from you to be grounded and kind to all. The jokes, one-liners, and your infectious laugh are all etched in my memory. As a child till now, I love the rasam that used to be made, and that taste still lingers on my taste buds. And yes, her iPad played a major role. I vividly remember how I used to write instructions in your handy book, which used to be like a Bible with you. Anything and everything used to be in that book. That book had everything written about how to lock and unlock your iPad, how to click a picture, and how to save contacts. Everything being taught, we used to be back on square one the very next day. . Thank you for all the beautiful memories I have of you and will have till my last breath. In a celebration of a life so beautifully lived, there's a place in my memory of you that can neither be filled nor be forgotten. You have left a mark in our hearts that will never be forgotten and will be indelible in our hearts. Miss you dearly, Aunty. “What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller.
B
Babu
Other •
I hold such fond memories of Raman Auntie, especially from my childhood. She was a wonderfully warm and kind-hearted soul, always ready to lend a hand to those in need. Her mere presence had the power to uplift our spirits. I cherish the days I spent with her in Agartala, Delhi, and later in Hyderabad. My childhood in Agartala was mostly spent at Auntie’s place, which felt like a second home. She would pick up Vinu and me from school, and we’d head home, where endless hours of play awaited us. I’ll always remember her infectious laughter, the wisdom she shared, and the immense love she showered on all of us. She had such a lively spirit and a great sense of humor. I will miss her dearly, but it brings comfort to think that she’s reunited with Uncle. I’m sure they’re sharing many joyful moments together again.
RY
Radhika Yathin
Other •
Leela aunty and Raman uncle were the epitome of a couple everyone should aspire to be like. Not because of their achievements alone but because, despite their successes, they continued to be warm, down to earth and full of enthusiasm for life. I will never forget how uncle, despite his knee issues, went to immerse my father's ashes afterhepassedawayin 2005. I'm forever grateful to them for their unflinching support of my parents through all the years of struggles they went through for no fault of theirs. Aunty would call me whenever she could and her warmth and love came through the phone each time. I am grateful to have visited them in 2018 with Meghana and stayed with them for a few days. Aunty came to the airport to pick us up, arranged for her driver to take us around and made sure our stay was comfortable in every possible way. We also got an opportunity to see her at Vinu's in the summer of 2023. I'm glad we met her and got the opportunity to introduce my daughters Joban and Meghana to her.. Rest in peace aunty, you will always have a fond place in my heart ❤. Love, Radhika

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