A funeral at a Kerala priest’s home has drawn attention for a reason that goes beyond the farewell itself.
The woman being mourned had spent years in the household, but she did not enter the family in the way most people would expect. Over time, her place in the home changed in ways that became clear only when the family gathered to say goodbye.
So, who was she, and why were her final rites held there?
What Happened?
Parvathi died on Sunday, 23 August, aged 88. She had reportedly fallen ill about a week before her death.
Her body was brought to the Chottanikkara home of Father O J Jacob, an Orthodox Christian priest, on Monday, 24 August.
Hindu funeral rituals were then conducted at the residence. Her relative Sajeev performed the Hindu last rites, and she was later cremated at the Eruveli crematorium.
Christian prayers were also offered at Jacob’s home during the farewell. The Hindu rituals followed Parvathi’s faith.
Who Was Parvathi?
Parvathi was orphaned when she was nine.
Before joining Jacob’s household, she had spent more than 35 years working in different homes.
She joined the family in 2000, when Jacob was raising his six-year-old daughter, Merin, after the death of his wife.
Parvathi was initially employed to help with household work and care for Merin.
Over the years, that role became much closer. Merin called her “Payamma”, and Jacob said Parvathi gradually became a member of the household.
She remained with the family for 26 years. She also stood beside Merin at her wedding, with Jacob describing her role as that of a mother.
Why Were The Hindu Rituals Held At The Home?
The decision was linked to Parvathi’s faith and her long association with the household.
Jacob arranged for her Hindu funeral rituals to take place at his residence. Her relatives carried out the Hindu rites, while Christian prayers were also offered there.
This meant the final farewell included the customs associated with Parvathi’s Hindu faith, while also taking place in the home where she had lived for more than two decades.
What Does This Story Tell Us?
The larger story is about how a relationship that began through employment developed into something much closer.
Parvathi entered the household as a domestic worker. Over 26 years, she helped care for Merin and became a member of the household, according to Jacob.
Her connection was not limited to the family either. Chottanikkara panchayat member Aleena George told The Indian Express that Parvathi was known as a mother figure to children in the area, some of whom came to pay their respects after her death.
Her final farewell brought together the different parts of that life. The Hindu rites followed her faith, while the Christian prayers reflected the religious community around the family.
The story, ultimately, is about the place Parvathi came to occupy in a household she had first entered as a worker, and how that relationship endured for more than two decades.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
Who was Parvathi?
Parvathi, known as Payamma, was an 88-year-old domestic worker who spent 26 years with Father O J Jacob’s family in Kerala.
How did she become part of the family?
She joined the household in 2000 and helped care for Jacob’s six-year-old daughter, Merin, after his wife’s death.
What happened after her death?
Her Hindu last rites were held at Jacob’s home in Chottanikkara on 24 August. Her relative Sajeev performed the rites before she was cremated.
Why were the rites held there?
Jacob had arranged for the ceremonies to take place at his residence, where Parvathi had lived for 26 years.
What else happened during the farewell?
Christian prayers were also offered at the home before Parvathi was taken for cremation.
