Susan Narjala

Keeping it Real

Gentle Spirit, Fierce Faith: A Tribute

February 26th, 2026 Faith, Family
This morning, my great aunt went home to be with Jesus. Her husband, PC Verghese, was a dynamic and respected evangelist in India for decades. He went to glory just two days ago. Both of them were like grandparents to me and instrumental in my faith journey. I have no doubt that they are rejoicing together in the presence of their Savior.
I had written a piece about my great aunt, Saramma Verghese, a few years ago. I’m republishing the article today to pay tribute once again to a selfless and beautiful woman of God. 
She came from a small village in Kerala in India. So small that it didn’t even have a train station. That was where my great aunt grew up in the 1930’s, the youngest of six children, among paddy fields and coconut trees, in a modest house with a tiled roof and a well outside.
Today, Saramma is a powerhouse of influence over hundreds of women who have the privilege of knowing her.
I always knew “kunjumai,” as we call her, as a wonderful, godly woman. I loved going over to her house. When we went over to spend the day, she would make my favourite chicken fry. There would be homemade spice cake and crisp ginger cookies. There would be marmalade from the Chinese orange plant that somehow managed to survive the summer heat of Madras. There would be pillowy dinner rolls, warm from the oven, baked just for us. Most of all, there would be a house full of warmth, where Jesus’ love was tangible.
We would never be bored as children when we went over. We shared guavas plucked from the tree in the backyard, sprinkled with chilli powder, and washed down with cold lemonade. We pored over the old encyclopaedias and photo albums on the neatly arranged bookshelves. We shared stories on the shaded verandah about life and love and God. Kunjumai was full of wisdom, but she never made me feel silly or small. God was a very natural part of her life, as He continues to be.
He is in her every conversation, without a single sermon. He is in her every gesture, without a whiff of self-righteousness.
As I said, I always knew she was wonderful. But only later did I discover how remarkable her faith journey was.
Saramma left her hometown to do her bachelor’s degree in Delhi, a bold step for a young woman from Kerala in the 1950s. But God had even more extraordinary plans for her. Not only did she complete her bachelor’s degree, but she also went on to do her master’s degree from Baroda’s leading university. She then decided to pursue another degree. This time, she boarded the Queen Elizabeth to make her way across the world to the University of Nebraska.
It was on that campus in Nebraska that this young lady from an obscure, hard-to-pronounce village in Kerala met Jesus. She knew then that her life would never be the same again. Instead of pursuing her PhD in nutrition as she had originally planned, Saramma decided to take on another master’s degree, in Greek and Hebrew from the venerable Wheaton College, Illinois. When she completed her course, she knew her calling was to go back to India and work with students.
Armed with one master’s degree from India, two American master’s degrees, and a deep love for the Lord, Saramma began her career as a professor at the Allahabad Agricultural Institute. She had settled into her single life, living in the women’s hostel on campus, when God decided to stir things up a bit. Quite a bit.
A dashing young evangelist visited the campus to preach to a roomful of students. Incidentally, an accomplished young professor of nutrition sciences was in that same room. The minute “PC” saw her, he heard God say, “This is her. This is the woman you’re going to marry.” The next day, he marched to her office to tell her that she was the one. Unperturbed, Saramma had three words for him: “Ask my father.”
After a year of correspondence, they tied the knot and began their lives together at the Agricultural Institute. Soon, Saramma was pregnant with their first child. Doctors were alarmed: she was carrying a  child with birth defects, they said. But in the labor room came not one, but two perfect baby girls.
Three years later, Saramma was pregnant again. She gave birth to another baby girl. But a minute after the baby was delivered, the surprised doctor exclaimed, “Wait, there’s one more!”
Yes, it was another set of beautiful twin girls. And both times, the twin babies came as a surprise to her (but not to the Lord!).
With four daughters, a full-time teaching job, and a husband whose ministry required travel, Saramma’s plate was not just full; it was overflowing.
Her life was full of unexpected turns. It continues to be. But she handles it with a marvellous grace that comes from an intimate walk with God. Not a morning goes by when she doesn’t start the day with Jesus. She may be expecting 50 people for dinner, she may be unwell, but there’s one thing she is unwilling to compromise on – her time with God.
As I leaf through my recipe book, I see pages marked with her name – Kunjumai’s Carrot Cake or Kunjumai’s Chicken Fry. But I would like to take a page from her book of faith as well.
She shows me that when you’re faced with the unexpected, cling closer to God.
She shows me that when you insist on spending time with Jesus, you instinctively become like Him.
She shows that the wisdom that comes from God outshines knowledge.
She shows me that you can be overwhelmingly generous without having a lot of stuff.
She shows me that hospitality is far more beautiful than entertaining.
She shows me that you don’t have to raise your voice for your life to speak volumes.
She shows me that you can inhabit both a sweet gentleness and a fierce faith at the same time.
Today, despite struggles with her health, “Saramma auntie,” as she is known to many, still keeps going. She bakes her famous Christmas cakes for the church sale. She travels to America to spend time with her four accomplished daughters and her grandsons. She cooks up a storm for visitors who are always coming in the front door. And she does it all with a gentle and quiet spirit. She smiles, she welcomes, and she puts Jesus on display.
We will miss you, sweet Kunjumai. We hope to continue your legacy of love and strength of character. Till we meet again.

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Comments

32 Comments

  • GOPALAKRISHNAN G NAIR

    Hi Susan & Saji; I am very sorry to hear about your loss. Let God blesses their souls.
    Gopi

  • Josephine Kuruvilla

    Wow!! What a legacy.

  • Judith

    What a wonderful tribute, dear Susan. I am deeply sorry for your loss. PC Uncle stood by me like a pillar, constantly encouraging and helping me navigate some difficult crossroads in my youth. I will always remember and miss Sara Aunty’s lovely brownies. I can only imagine how enriched your life must be, having been blessed with such a wonderful uncle and aunty. Their love and legacy will live on in the many lives they touched. May their souls rest in peace.

    • Susan Narjala

      Beautiful and blessed memories for sure, Judith. Thanks for sharing.

  • Sarah

    I’m really sorry for your loss, Susan. Your aunt’s impact is profound, and this is such a beautiful tribute. Her legacy of love and faith shines through your words.

  • Elvera Farmer-Henderson

    Wow, Susan, what an inspirational testimony about your aunt. Love it! Thanks for sharing it.

  • Jyothi Immaraj

    It was through PC that I came to know the Lord through an EU meeting in Hyderabad.

    • Susan Narjala

      So good to know. He has such passion for the kingdom. Blessings, Susan

  • Rhonda

    Thank you for sharing this with us again. I will pray the Lord will comfort your family in this time of preciousness.

  • Guna Justin

    That was a lovely tribute….each and every lines flashes visuals….both aunty and uncle are all in one… with unbounding care and love … Thanking God for the lovely moments that we got to spend with them. Missing them… with the hope to meet them on the beautiful shore.

  • Veinu Gnanaolivu

    Thank you for this beautiful tribute. Mrs. Varghese was all that & more. She & her wonderful husband were a constant source of support & inspiration to us & our family. We will always remember them with love & gratitude. May God continue to bless their family & grant them His peace during this difficult time.

  • Tim Noonan

    Susan,
    Thank you for sharing your tribute to your aunt, talk about leaving a legacy! Our prayers to you and your family as you deal with your loss but celebrating the life that Jesus has promised us in eternity.
    God bless.

  • Ted Senapatiratne

    Thank You Susan for sharing this great testimony of your Aunt!
    What a Legacy she is leaving! Blessings on your family!

  • Asha Verghese

    A beautiful tribute to your God fearing aunt . You are blessed Susan to have had an aunt to direct you in the right way.
    God bless you.
    May her life which has already influenced several lives be a guiding light for many more.

    • Susan Narjala

      Yes, was blessed indeed to have known her and my uncle.

      • Benjamin Karunakaran

        A wonderful and movie tribute to Saramma Aunty! As a couple they were instrumental in bringing me to the Lord. The Kirk Youth Fellowship drew so much inspiration, wisdom and strength from their life. May God help us carry this legacy forward!
        Thank you for sharing Susan. Just reading this post brings back so many fond memories!

        • Susan Narjala

          Yeah, PC uncle was so well loved by the KYF gang! Thanks for sharing, Benji. Blessings, Susan

  • Chris Pullenayegem

    Tks for this inspirational reflection. I knew evangelist Verghese – not personally but about him when I lived in Sri Lanka. Wonderful people of God who sacrificed everything that He might be known. Inspiring how God keeps his promise to the 1000’s of generations of those who love and obey Him.

  • Abraham mani

    A befitting tribute to a wonderful,godly grand aunt. God bless you Susan.

  • Bill

    There are times and writings and moments when I am surprised, yes moved, to uncontrollable emotion, complete with tears. Thank you for this Susan.
    Blessings in abundance to you for your grief, that it be filled with the joy your auntie has brought you.

MEET SUSAN

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