Obituary of Aleykutty Antony

Aleykutty Antony
Born: March 10, 1928 – Passed: April 13, 2025

Aleykutty Antony passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the age of 97, surrounded by the love and warmth of her family. Her remarkable journey was one of trials and triumphs, characterized by grace, perseverance, and unwavering faith. Aleykutty's life stands as a living testimony to the extraordinary achievements of an ordinary woman from a small village.

Born in Muvattupuzha, India, to Joseph and Annam Nedumpedika, Aleykutty married her beloved Antony Avirappattu in 1946 and moved to the rural village of Palamattom. Together, they built a life deeply rooted in faith, hard work, and devotion to their family.

Her resilience shone brightly as she faced profound challenges. Aleykutty was the mother of twelve children, enduring the loss of her firstborn as an infant and her husband when she was just 41 years old. Despite these trials, she drew upon extraordinary courage and her steadfast faith in God to raise her eleven surviving children. With the help of her older children, she worked the land and maintained a loving home, building a strong foundation for her large and growing family. Her family now spans three continents. Aleykutty's virtues of grace, sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance served as a guiding light to her children and generations to come. She was known for her hospitality and held malice towards none.

In later years, Aleykutty faced more heartache, including the loss of a son in 2010. Yet she remained rooted in her spiritual convictions, finding solace in the chant, “Daivathinu Sthothram” (Praise be to God). Her daily prayers and scripture readings were a testament to her deep faith. She was a devoted member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Velielchal, and later Pentecostal congregations in Kothamangalam, Kerala, and New Jersey, USA.

Aleykutty cherished the simple joys of life, particularly the time spent with family. She took immense pride in watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow, celebrating the expansion of her family with delight. Her presence brought special joy to her great-grandchildren, with whom she shared a loving and active bond. 

She leaves behind a legacy of strength, faith, and love through her surviving family: ten children—Annakutty, Mary, Jose, Lilly, Philomina, Elsy, Lally, George, Stella, and Antony; sixteen grandchildren—Jithin, Linta, Tony, Franco, Florance, Alex, Teena, Dominic, Robin, Ann Rose, Davis, Liz, Francis, Jacob, Elsa, and Daniel; and thirteen great-grandchildren—Neha, Angelin, Annlin, Nathan, Zelie, Ezra, Abigail, Joshua, Chiara, Joseph, Claire, Abel, and Eliza, with three more expected in the coming months.

“Who can find a woman of virtue? For her value is far above rubies.” – Proverbs 31:10

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Aleykutty’s life at a visitation on Friday, April 18, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. (ET) at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ. A funeral service will follow on Saturday, April 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (ET), also at the funeral home. Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Piscataway