Sally Michelle Mathew

My mother, Sally Mathew, impacted the lives of many others, starting with her five children and three step-children, six grandchildren and husband, TJ (Ani) Mathew, of 47 years. To say that she lived a colorful life would be an understatement. Having given birth to five children by the age of 30, she continued to raise them while starting her college career around the age of 40. She finished college from San Jose State University and became a public relations officer for the West Valley Community College District where she worked fora many years before her retirement. She met and married Mr. TJ Mathew, an immigrant from the country of India, and was married to him for 47 years until she passed. She met and married him after being introduced by his beloved sister, the late Sarah Kailath. Mrs. Kailath had been a neighbor, living across the street, and the two became lifelong friends and sisters. Both were characterized by an unselfish and loving graciousness. Mom and Appa (TJ) began living in India in the early 90's, making frequent annual return trips to the USA to spend time with their children, friends and attend to business matters. During that period and before, they entertained hundreds (if not thousands) of friends and guests hosting dinner parties, having Halloween bashes, and in general socializing frequently. They took the time to be involved in all of their children's lives and later with their grandchildren. They also travelled around the world a lot! In fact, I remember Mom exercising her Bohemian nature with me, when I was just 5 years old in 1969. She took me with her on a two month trip which literally encircled the globe, and we visited such countries as Lebanon, England, Japan and of course India, where we stayed with her good friend Sarah and her family in the Southern state of Kerala. Mom was also an outdoor enthusiast. She would take us (her children) out camping frequently to the Santa Cruz Coast and we would sleep under the stars; tents were not necessary. Mom loved the great outdoors. She took me river rafting and we frequently skied in the lovely Lake Tahoe ski slopes. Mom had a heart for others. Once she even delivered a baby inside of a gas station bathroom, after she entered and found a young woman sprawled out on the floor in labor. The baby was born, with Mom as the default midwife, and as she prepared to leave as the young woman held her baby in awe, the young woman asked Mom her name. Mom replied "Sally", and she (the new mother) then pointed to her newborn girl, and indicated her name would also be Sally! That's the kind of person Mom was.