Amara Nanayakkara, of The Colony, Texas, passed away on November 7, 2023, at the age of 92. She was born on November 23, 1930, to Abeysena Perera and Somawathi Perera in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She met Nandathilake Nanayakkara as a child and they were married in 1952 and were together until 1975 when he passed. Nandathilake had a family bakery and restaurant that Amara ran for close to 20 years before she moved to California and brought her family with her; working odd and end jobs. From 2000-2007, Amara went back and forth from California to North Texas to visit family and help care for them. In 2007, Amara moved to North Texas to stay. Amara was a great host for family and friends, always making sure they were well fed and the air was full of laughter. Amara loved her kids and took great pride in their accomplishments, including their kids and grandchildren. Amara was a very religious woman that enjoyed playing the odds and testing her luck at any slot machine she could find.
She is survived by her children, Devan Nanayakkara and wife, Mayuri of Burbank, California, Jayantha Nanayakkara and wife, Nimali of The Colony, Texas, Udaya Nanayakkara and wife, Sunildevi of Richardson, Texas, Hiranthi Nanayakkara of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Champa Jayabahu and husband, Jayabahu of Frisco, Texas, Gishanthi Fonseka and husband, Renzil of Colombo, Sri Lanka; grandchildren, Anjula, Deshan, Madusha, Tharindu, Kavindri, Yasith, Dineth, Navisha, Hasith, Vishmith, Chamath; great grandchildren, Anishka and Thehas; and a host of other loving family and friends.
Amara was preceded in death by her parents, Abeysena Perera and Somowathi Perera; and son, Dhammika Nanayakkara.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Friday evening from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
The service will be livestreamed at https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/amara-nanayakkara. After the service, the recorded livestream will be available at the same link location.