Nirmala Kumar fondly known as Shirley, wife of Commander. S. S. Kumar (Indian Navy, retired),
a resident of Mylapore passed away on May 5 2026 after a brief illness.
The funeral service was held at St. Thomas English Church, San Thome on May 7 2026, followed by
burial at Quibble Island Cemetery.
She was seventh child of Stella and Alfred Thangiah who was regional manager (south) of
HMV Gramophone Records Company and a long-time resident of Mandavali.
She had six sisters and one brother.
She studied in Rosary Metric School, did her PUC in Stella Maris College, B.Sc. mathematics
from Queen Marys College and B.Ed. from Lady Wellington College.
She worked as a banker at Indian Overseas Bank in Chennai and Pune, giving up her career in banking for her two daughters and switched over to a career in education as a maths and science teacher in various schools
wherever her husband was posted in the Indian Navy – in Delhi, Bombay, Lonavala and Chennai.
She was an active member of the church community of St Thomas English Church; she was a teacher in St. Thomas English Church school.
She wholeheartedly supported her husband Cdr. S. S. Kumar (a war veteran of the
1971 Indo-Pak war) on his various postings throughout India and resided in Mylapore after his
retirement.
She is survived by her husband, sisters Pramilla and Malini, daughters Dr. Caroline Priya
MD (professor, MMC) and Dr. Mercy Preethi MD (internal medicine, USA) and their families.
