Aliyamma George (née Varghese) defined her life by how much she could fill it with family and friends. She thrived on an extensive network that included her three children, her husband, her relatives and her church. She always cared about what was going on in people’s lives, and was there to lend support or help. She never forgot a birthday or an anniversary.
Aliyamma was born on February 15, 1943 in Vallikode, Kerala, India, into the Kallumpuruthu Puthuparambil family. Her parents were Geevarghese Yohanan and Sosamma Varghese. She was the middle child, with two sisters, the older Anamma and the younger Mariamma.
As she grew up, Aliyamma proved to be an excellent student. An active child, she joined sports and other extracurricular programs. With a calling for helping others, she joined a nursing program in the military after she finished school. Later in life, she would talk about her time in the Indian Army with fondness, for the work and even more for the people she met while stationed in Pune, Delhi, and other parts of India. She never wanted to forget any fact or feature about her colleagues and friends, and could reproduce minute details about them in the stories she told years later to others. While in the military, she reached the rank of captain. She also met her husband.
On May 28, 1972, she married George Mannickarottu, and a year later, they had their first child, Gerald, called Jerry, living in Delhi. Two more sons followed: Sachin, born in Kerala, and then Sevile, who was born after the family moved from India to Monticello, NY.
They moved to the Houston suburbs in 1980. At some point, the couple felt the pull to move back to their homeland, and ventured to live in India again. But eventually they settled back in the Houston area.
Recently, she and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Aliyamma loved and was proud of her three children and family. As an excellent cook, she produced dishes her children still crave today. They longingly recall her appam and chicken curry, as well as her “Indianized” spaghetti. Religion was a staple part of life for the growing family. Aliyamma always felt close to God and thanked Him daily for His blessings. Her love for God and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was apparent in her daily prayers and her deep involvement in the church and its community, alongside her husband. An accomplished singer, she was active in the India Catholics of Houston choir. Aliyamma never doubted that she would be with God after her time on Earth.
Even while struggling for over 45 years with complications of diabetes, she didn't let it stop her from living her life and continuing to talk to people daily, for as long as possible.
Aliyamma is survived by her husband, three sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren.
The viewing will be held on Tuesday, August 16 at 6:30 pm at St. Peter’s Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (3135 5th Street, Stafford, TX 77477) and the funeral service will be held at the same Church at 9:30 am on Wednesday. A graveside service will occur Wednesday, August 17, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery (12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077).
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made in her name to Catholic Charities in the following address: https://bit.ly/3QvOhqv. If you would like to include a note to the family, use the notification recipient information of George Mannickarottu at St. Peter’s Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, 3135 5th Street, Stafford, TX 77477.
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