Susy Kuruvilla, named Susy John at birth, was born on February 1st, 1925 to loving parents, Mr. Kunjappan John Wattacheril John and Mrs. Sosamma John in the town of Tiruvalla in Kerala, India. She was the third oldest of 7 children. She graduated from Syrian Christian Seminary Secondary School in Kerala in the early 1940s and studied Nursing and Midwifery before moving to Bombay to work at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
In Bombay, she met her husband, Kuriakose Kuruvilla and they were married in 1955. Susy gave birth to 3 sons – Sunil in 1956, Anil in 1959 and Binil in 1966 and stayed home to raise them since 1956. She was a second mother to her niece, Susan George, helping raise her for a few years in her home in the 1970s. In 1988, Susy took responsibility for raising her newborn granddaughter Karishma, alongside Karishma’s dad Anil, in the absence of Karishma’s biological mother.
Susy had a beautiful essence and radiance about her that made others want to be around her.
In her career as a registered nurse, Susy was a dedicated and valued member of the Oncology Team for 15 years. As a wife, mother and friend, Susy was virtuous and capable, enriching lives, waking up before dawn to prepare breakfast and pack heart healthy lunches for her household, helping friends and community in practical, relevant ways. She was energetic and strong – dabbling in a second career in real estate in the 1990s. She was caring, always willing to extend a helping hand towards the poor and embraced those in need, prayerfully and decisively doing whatever she could to help. Susy’s words were wise – many would go to her when they needed advice and she gave instructions with kindness.
Susy took pride dressing well and enjoyed stylish clothing, accessories, vibrant colors, and gold jewelry all her life. As the historian of the family, she kept careful records and helped us understand our past and familial connections and carefully planned for the future, being sensible with finances, choices and relationships. In 2006, Susy moved to Canada to join her family at 81 years of age.
Susy opened her home and heart to others with much joy. Susy’s strength, wisdom, virtue, capability, kindness and joy came from her steadfast walk with the Lord Jesus, and her life is a wonderful testimony to the goodness and faithfulness of our God.
Susy will be dearly missed and remembered by the many people whose lives she touched.