In memory of
Dr. Aleyamma Thomas Varghese
October 7, 1935 - August 7, 2025
It’s with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of my mother, Dr. Aleyamma Thomas Varghese early on the morning of August 7th, 2025, at the age of 89 at the Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga.
Aleyamma was the loving and devoted wife of 54 years to the late Dr. Alummootil John Varghese (1930 – 2024), cherished mother of Gita, and adoring grandmother to Josiah and Asa. She was often fondly referred to as “Mummy” to many. Aleyamma was predeceased by her parents Kuttiyappan (Thomas) and Aleyamma, brothers Pappachan (Annamma), Eappachen (Mariamma), and sisters Sr. Mary S.I.C, and Annamma (Kunjuppai). She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, extended family and many friends.
Aleyamma Thomas was born in Mallappally, Kerala, India. She was the youngest of five children. After completing schooling in Mallappally, she went on to study at St Berchman’s (SB) College in Changanacherry, Kerala. With the sponsorship of the local bishop, Aleyamma was sent to Italy to study medicine at the University of Rome in Italy. After arriving in Rome by ship, she had to learn Italian while also studying medicine. She spent 5 years in Rome and achieved her MBBS degree in 1965 and also became fluent in Italian. She did one year residence in Dublin, Ireland, also in Manipal, India. She ended up back in Kerala, where she worked at Pushpagiri hospital in Thiruvalla, Kerala.
By this time, Aleyamma was still unmarried at the age of 34, which was considered late at the time. She did not find a suitable suitor until she was introduced to Dr. Alummootil John Varghese, who had been visiting from the US, where he was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Dallas. They had such a good connection, that they got engaged right away, and within 6 months, Aleyamma flew to Dallas to start her new life. On April 11th, 1970, they were married at a very small ceremony in front of a handful of friends.
The following year, they welcomed their only child, a daughter, Gita. Alummoottil’s student visa was expiring, and so he and Aleyamma planned to immigrate to Canada. When Gita was only three months old, Aleyamma received a job offer from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto, where they wanted her to start right away. Aleyamma made the difficult choice to leave her husband and very young daughter to start the new job. Dr. Varghese and Gita would join her in Toronto a month later.
Aleyamma went on to do an internship at Women’s College Hospital in 1974. She started her own medical practice as family physician at a clinic at College St. and Ossington Ave, where she worked for over 30 years. She was popular as an Italian speaking female family doctor. She often made house calls, and baby deliveries when on-call for the Doctor’s Hospital. She devoted her career to caring for all her patients, and many elderly patients, until they passed. She would remain there until her retirement in 2005 at the age of 70.
In 2000, Aleyamma and ALUMMOOTTIL became the proud grandparents of Josiah and then Asa in 2002. She loved and doted on her grandchildren. She loved watching them grow. They lived in Toronto briefly, until they moved to Mississauga, where they would spend the rest of their lives. At the age of 40, Aleyamma took lessons to learn to swim, and learned to ride a bike in her 50s! She didn’t shy away from challenges. Together they raised their daughter with plenty of love and enjoyed over 54 years together. They were very loving, and often spotted on walks together, holding hands.
After retirement, she devoted herself to her grandchildren, her church and Malayalee community.
She will be dearly missed. In her later years, she still maintained her sharp wit and spirit.
A special thank you to Jocelyn, who took such good care of both my parents for the past couple of years, and then mom for the last few months, and also to Gheli, and Anu for the special care as well.
Aleyamma was the loving and devoted wife of 54 years to the late Dr. Alummootil John Varghese (1930 – 2024), cherished mother of Gita, and adoring grandmother to Josiah and Asa. She was often fondly referred to as “Mummy” to many. Aleyamma was predeceased by her parents Kuttiyappan (Thomas) and Aleyamma, brothers Pappachan (Annamma), Eappachen (Mariamma), and sisters Sr. Mary S.I.C, and Annamma (Kunjuppai). She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, extended family and many friends.
Aleyamma Thomas was born in Mallappally, Kerala, India. She was the youngest of five children. After completing schooling in Mallappally, she went on to study at St Berchman’s (SB) College in Changanacherry, Kerala. With the sponsorship of the local bishop, Aleyamma was sent to Italy to study medicine at the University of Rome in Italy. After arriving in Rome by ship, she had to learn Italian while also studying medicine. She spent 5 years in Rome and achieved her MBBS degree in 1965 and also became fluent in Italian. She did one year residence in Dublin, Ireland, also in Manipal, India. She ended up back in Kerala, where she worked at Pushpagiri hospital in Thiruvalla, Kerala.
By this time, Aleyamma was still unmarried at the age of 34, which was considered late at the time. She did not find a suitable suitor until she was introduced to Dr. Alummootil John Varghese, who had been visiting from the US, where he was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Dallas. They had such a good connection, that they got engaged right away, and within 6 months, Aleyamma flew to Dallas to start her new life. On April 11th, 1970, they were married at a very small ceremony in front of a handful of friends.
The following year, they welcomed their only child, a daughter, Gita. Alummoottil’s student visa was expiring, and so he and Aleyamma planned to immigrate to Canada. When Gita was only three months old, Aleyamma received a job offer from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto, where they wanted her to start right away. Aleyamma made the difficult choice to leave her husband and very young daughter to start the new job. Dr. Varghese and Gita would join her in Toronto a month later.
Aleyamma went on to do an internship at Women’s College Hospital in 1974. She started her own medical practice as family physician at a clinic at College St. and Ossington Ave, where she worked for over 30 years. She was popular as an Italian speaking female family doctor. She often made house calls, and baby deliveries when on-call for the Doctor’s Hospital. She devoted her career to caring for all her patients, and many elderly patients, until they passed. She would remain there until her retirement in 2005 at the age of 70.
In 2000, Aleyamma and ALUMMOOTTIL became the proud grandparents of Josiah and then Asa in 2002. She loved and doted on her grandchildren. She loved watching them grow. They lived in Toronto briefly, until they moved to Mississauga, where they would spend the rest of their lives. At the age of 40, Aleyamma took lessons to learn to swim, and learned to ride a bike in her 50s! She didn’t shy away from challenges. Together they raised their daughter with plenty of love and enjoyed over 54 years together. They were very loving, and often spotted on walks together, holding hands.
After retirement, she devoted herself to her grandchildren, her church and Malayalee community.
She will be dearly missed. In her later years, she still maintained her sharp wit and spirit.
A special thank you to Jocelyn, who took such good care of both my parents for the past couple of years, and then mom for the last few months, and also to Gheli, and Anu for the special care as well.