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A Tragic Announcement from Maureen
“We have been through difficult times at HOPE over the years, this is the absolute worst of them. On Sunday 11th October, in complete shock and devastation, we announced the untimely and sudden death of our beloved Geeta Venkadakrishnan. There will never be anyone like Geeta, this loss is almost impossible for us to put into words. She was the most special of human beings. Our hearts are absolutely breaking as we write this.
Geeta had been privately battling Covid 19 recently. We were respecting her request for privacy, we had been monitoring her progress while quietly praying for her speedy recovery. Up until the morning of Sunday 11th October Geeta was recovering and we were all hopeful, but as a result of a massive heart attack she tragically died that afternoon.
There are no words that can express our deep anguish and sorrow for the enormity of this tragic loss. Geeta has been a special friend to me for 21 years and a special friend to the HOPE family. To her HOPE family all over the world, many of you met her and loved her, everyone knew her big heart and will mourn her loss with us all. We are especially thinking of her beloved HOPE children who will be heartbroken.
Our deepest sympathy is with her husband Ravi and her son Harish, her family and her close friends, colleagues as they try to come to terms with such a tragic loss.”
Geeta dedicated her life to her work, her passion never wavered, she never stopped, so neither will we. We have to continue, in her memory. If you wish to honour Geeta you can donate to HOPE in her memory to help us continue her mission. Geeta, we will remember you and honour you in carrying on your work with your beloved children.
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You will live forever in our hearts through your work.
Our thoughts and sympathies are with Geeta's husband Ravi, son Harish and the Hope families in Kolkata and Ireland. Much love to Maureen and Jenny at this heartbreaking time for them. May the beautiful Geeta rest in heavenly peace. Her loss is immeaserable. Cinnte ní bheidh leithéid Geeta ann aris
Geeta you are at peace now, and know that what you have done and achieved for the children and families of India will always be remembered and cherished. You are forever an extraordinary woman. I want to offer my deepest sympathies to Geeta’s family and to The Hope Foundation. May she RIP. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam
I wanted to offer my condolences my to Geeta’s family and loved ones. I was privileged to see the amazing work she had achieved when I visited Kolkata in 2018 and I know that she will be sorely missed by all. May she rest in peace.
I still cant believe that 'Geeta Di' is no longer with us! A person with a golden heart, I can still remember last time I met her we were talking about a new song sung by the angels of Ashar Alo & Kasba home , she was so much happy that i noticed there was tears in her eyes, a person with full of life, full of helping attitude, she always encouraged me regarding teaching new songs to all the beautiful children. You will be terribly missed Geeta di, you changed so many lives, you will be forever in our heart.
I am privileged to know you and privileged to be a small part of the wonderful Hope Family.
My deepest sympathy to her family.
Geeta di you will be always with us.. in the heart of all of us. ??
– Joy Sankar Choudhury (Music Teacher , Ashar Alo & Kasba Home), Kolkata, India.
Geeta Mam will always be in my heart.❤️ I wish her to be in peace and happiness. We will work together to fulfill her dreams and continue to serve the society.
'Geeta, your work on this earth is done! May your soul always be in the light of love!' Codladh sámh Geeta!
I want to offer my sincere sympathies to Ravi and Hamish and all at the Hope Foundation. My candle is lighting for you all at this very sad time.
Im so sorry to hear of Greeta passing, thinking of her family and friends at this sad and difficult time and all The Hope Foundation Family. Rest In Peace Geeta
Thank you for all you have done, I traveled to Kolkata with HOPE many years ago and saw first hand how wonderful this charity is. May you rest in peace.
On behalf of the Cii team, may I extend our deepest sympathy on the untimely passing of Geeta. Thinking of her family, friends and of course all at the The Hope Foundation during this very sad and difficult time. Geeta's legacy lives on. May she rest in peace. Liz Hughes
How terribly sad that Geeta is no longer with us. She worked so tirelessly for those living in poverty and hardship, and changed the lives of so many children. The hundreds – no thousands – of underpriviledged people that she helped will surely miss her enormously. She is an example to us all. I send my deepest sympathy to her family.
On behalf of Mount Mercy College, and especially those of our staff & students who have been involved with the Hope Foundation over many years, please accept our deepest sympathy at the tragic loss of Geeta.
Many condolences on the untimely and shocking loss of Geeta. I'm so sorry to hear of her death. Thinking of Geeta's family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time – she seemed like an amazing person. Rest in peace.
Greeta was magnificent. She had such presence, such dedication and such compassion. When I first met her in Kolkata 10 years ago, I went out with her on a night patrol, where she visited the most vulnerable families and children living on the streets, she knew so many of them by name, the young mum who’d just had a baby, living in an underpass, the children she was particularly worried about and may need to bring into care. In the teeming slums she showed me that everyone is an individual with hopes and ambitions. Geeta was a force of nature, she changed so many lives and legacy will be immense. It is heartbreaking that she was taken from us far too soon.
To all Geeta's blood family and Hope family. To all those who loved her. My thoughts and prayers are with you xxx
So sorry to hear of the death of Greeta, thinking of her family and friends at this hard time and all The Hope Foundation. May she Rest In Peace.
Michelle, Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig
Geeta was the beating heart of HOPE in Kolkata and words cannot express my sadness at her premature passing. She will be sorely missed, such an inspiring role model for us all. But here in the UK, we are committed to carrying on the good work in her name.
Geeta was in Cambridge and London in May 19 for the SCCWC. She brought over 8 of the loveliest HOPE children to play cricket in the Street Children World Cup finals at Lord’s, having worked ceaselessly to ensure they all had birth certificates and visas for the trip. She was like a mother to these young people from the HOPE protection homes – her love, humour, compassion and firmness shone out. I feel privileged to have known her.
My thoughts are with Geeta’s family, with Maureen and the wider HOPE family.
What a wonderful woman and such a tragic loss. My deepest sympathy to Geeta’s family and friends.
A candle is lighting in Dublin , Ireland in memory of this remarkable & inspirational lady Getta (RIP) for her husband Ravi, son Harish and all the Hope family at this very sad time..
Namaste, Patricia Crimin
My deepest and heartfelt condolences to Geeta ma'am family and all those who are at Hope. I personally know her for 3 years now since I first met her at early 2017.She had been a wonderful, passionate, remarkable woman, I had ever come across, who had dedicated her entire life for the children and all those vulnerable people out there. She was a mother to all those deprived souls. Geeta ma'am was a great inspiration for all of us. She will be remembered forever for her outstanding nobel work which she had carried out over the years. All of us from the Hope family will definitely try fullfil her dreams by continuing our work, but Hope without Geeta ma'am will never be the same again. We bid adieu to you with tears in our eyes. May you soul rest in peace.
It is with great sadness that we heard of the tragic death of Geeta. She was always so welcoming to the students of The King's Hospital and we were all very saddened to hear of this news. Geeta was a real mother hen to all the children. Her natural warmth, enthusiam, cheerfulness and affection that she had for the childen was so obvious to everyone. She was deeply committed to the work of the Hope Foundation and was a wonderful ambassador. She will be deeply missed by so many, but most especially the children of Kolkata as she was the nearest thing many of them had to a mother. My heart breaks for them. We are sending our prayers to Geeta's family and all who mourn her loss.
Deepest sympathy on the loss of such a wonderful woman. Geeta was such a beacon of hope for so many people in India, it is so sad that she has been taken at such a young age. She had years of good work to come.
Geeta was truly an inspirational and remarkable lady who will be deeply missed by so many. Her compassion and dedication to HOPE's work shone through, and she was the heart and soul of ‘HOPE Kolkata’. My thoughts are with her family at this sad time.
Jacinta and I are still struggling to find the words for this shock and sadness.
Geeta was a huge inspiration during our time living and working Kolkata – working on projects together in Kolkata in 2015/16 and then as colleagues via the HOPE UK team until 2018.
She made an unbelievable impact on thousands of lives in the city and the surrounding region. Geeta had an unbelievable desire and passion to help those most in need – something that will continue to inspire our family. We are very lucky to have met her and to have worked with her. We cannot believe she is no longer with us – it is truly unbelievable.
We are praying for her, her family and all the Hope family and friends in Kolkata x
Geeta, and the HOPE team, were avid supporters of the Froebel HOPE Partnership, since it was established in 2008. Froebel Teachers and Staff always received a sincere and warm welcome from Geeta on their arrival to the HOPE office. She was a charismatic, visionary leader who dedicated her life to children. Geeta understood the Froebelian principles of a child-centred education and worked tirelessly to ensure that children always came first. She lived her values daily, never stopped thinking of how she could help, and was selfless in her plans for the future. Her energy, enthusiasm and positive spirit left anyone in her presence in awe. Her solution-focused approach was inspirational to all who met her.
We extend our heartfelt sympathies to her husband Ravi, and her son Harish, extended family, friends and colleagues in Kolkata. In Ireland, we are sending our thoughts to her dear friends, Maureen Forrest and Sr. Jenny Browne (The HOPE Foundation) and the wider HOPE family, as they come to terms with Geeta’s passing.
I am writing to you to convey my condolences and those of all the embassy staff on the recent death of Ms. Geeta Venkadakrishnan. Her work for the Hope Foundation touched many lives and benefitted many young people. She will be fondly remembered by the young volunteers from Ireland and elsewhere who had the opportunity to work with the Hope Foundation in recent years.
Please convey our condolences to the family of Ms. Venkadakrishnan and to her other colleagues at Hope Foundation in Kolkata. I hope that the valuable work of the Foundation will continue and prosper, as I am sure it is even more necessary during these difficult times.
I was devastated to hear of the news of Geeta passing away, especially since I was thinking of my home city of Kolkata and the difficult time it was passing through with Covid, particularly for the underprivileged. I had previously done a workshop in Kolkata to support the professionals who work for the Hope Foundation, organised by Geeta, and thinking of her, I mailed Reza offering to virtually support these dedicated workers, the little I could do from London. The reply came back from Reza to say Geeta had just passed away! While feeling devastated initially, I also saw hope in it, as she is now leaving it up to us now to follow her shining example and give something back to the people that she cared so much about, which we shall try our best to do, in whatever little way possible. In the meantime, I pray for Geeta’s noble soul.
Gone but not forgotten. You touched the lives of so many people. I am priveledged to have known such a kind selfless person. May your gentle soul rest in peace.
Condolences to the family. Rest in Peace, Geeta, a truly wonderful person.
Thank you for reaching out bringing comfort and hope to so many.
