On Easter Sunday, the 12th of April 2020, my teacher, fondly known as ‘’Mees” passed away.

She was known to most at school as Miss Pieris and later, Mrs Iris Samarasekera after she was married.

She was 97 years old and died in Colombo, Sri Lanka. According to the news I received, she died as peacefully as she lived - what an accomplishment !

It was sad that we didn’t get the opportunity to say farewell and honour her life at her funeral service due to the current state of curfew and lockdown conditions.

From the moment I heard the news, I’ve had this tightness in my chest and lump in my throat.  I feel the need to let it out. This is my cry, my tribute to the best teacher I had during my school years.

I was about 9 years old, when I first met Miss Peiris when I came to All Saint’s College in Borella, a Catholic, girls only school, run by Carmelite nuns. This is my tribute to her:

To Mees with Love,

I thank you for protecting and shielding me during those vulnerable years of early childhood. Showing me kindness and compassion and helping me work through my feelings of inadequacy, humiliation and embarrassment in being a part of a disadvantaged group of society, because of economic circumstances. For how could  a young girl of 9 have known how to navigate the difficult social environment at school or understand discrimination and the barriers this posed at such an early age. If it wasn’t for your strong sense of fairness, equality, generosity and inclusiveness, there would have been many of us, poor kids who would not have reached our potential during our school years.

You dedicated your life to teaching, it was your vocation and you lived up to its highest standards. As I understand you began and finished your teaching tenure of some 50 +years at All Saints College in Borella.  An incredible accomplishment, teaching 4 or 5 generations & some from the same family.

You were involved in every part of school life, all of the arts, music - you ran the school Western music band, played piano at every school celebration and function, taught music & choir, encouraging us to participate in many singing competitions. You were a leader in the performing arts & drama, directing and executing many school plays, elocution and English literature, home economics classes, but mostly your dedication and commitment in establishing and running the 27th Colombo Girl Guide Company is what you will be remembered for most by many of us and this is where I came to know you and your kind nature and HUGE heart best.

At the 27th Colombo Girl Guides Company, you were the Chief and we were your troops. You were a wise, strong and gentle leader. Your big heart had room for all of us, equally. You made everyone feel welcome. You created and held the space for all. Your spirit was infectious, cheeky and kind. You didn’t fuss or punish the little indiscretions or mistakes, gently nudging us back on track. You taught us the stuff about real life, more than the academic stuff, about values!

I recall you teaching me about integrity, a simple lesson in keeping my word. You fostered and encouraged fellowship amongst us all. You never took things too seriously, just letting go and letting be! Complaints were never encouraged nor was gossip.
Your time you gave so willingly, serving freely. Teaching us how to cook, about the outdoors, about nature, how to live frugally, singing, hiking, camping appreciating life. You took us places we would never have known or been able to go, showing us things ….opening our minds.

I hope you know what a legacy you leave behind in the many children whose lives crossed your path……in reflection, I am not sure this tribute does justice to you!

To Mees with Love