Tribute from Mrs Mahendrawathie

I joined GMH on July 27 1969. After 3 months of initial classes as a 1st year nursing student, we were asked to go to the ward for practice. There I met Sister Lillie in the female ward at GMH. She was the ward supervisor. Sister Lillie was thin built, had a pleasant nature, she was gentle spoken and highly skilled. She was always attending patients with a cheerful face.

She taught all the nursing procedures with good demonstration on the patient and off the patient as well. She checked and corrected students when needed. While we did procedures on patient’s she use to be at beside us and observed us in every step. She made us good and skilled nursing students, who became highly confident in doing procedures.

One remarkable thing we students noticed was Dr.EJ Hiscox. MD was impressed by Sister Lillie’s Telugu and requested the administration to keep Sister Lillie as the female ward supervisor and not change her to another ward. Whatever was told by Dr. Hiscox in English was translated by Sister. Lillie to the patients. She translated so well that the patients would speak back to Dr Hiscox in Telugu. Dr. Hiscox had a lot of admiration and she liked Sis. Lillie a lot. The students also loved her a lot.

Sis Lille saw that her personal and professional life was divided very well. She planned and organized things in such a way that she took care of her household and functioned very well in the ward as well. Her family life and professional life was not disturbed in anyway. She was a very good wife and an excellent mother to her children. She took care of her husband’s needs as well as the growth and development of her children. She took good care of her husband’s family and her family as well.

She was very social with everyone. The students called her 1st year nursing students supervisor. She organized all the secret friend programs, In service education and growth and development programs in the Female ward that gained the attention of the administration. They said she was an outstanding nursing supervisor at that time.

On the whole she was a blessing to those around her. She was cheerful and very very prayerful lady. While I was in my 1st year of nursing, Sis. Lillie moved to the US. When she left we cried for 1 whole week. I feel very sad to miss a lady who is not here with us. My heartfelt condolences to Anna, children, grandchildren, relatives, friends and church members where she was worshipping the Lord. Heartfelt thank you for what I have learnt from Sis. Lillie. I hope to see her when time comes.