Aju Varghese

On May 7, 2026, Aju Varghese passed away as her family sang hymns and read scripture. She left a legacy of prayer, love for people and the church, and a passion for education. Most of all, she exemplified strength even in hard times, transforming adversity to victory with the help of her loving savior Jesus. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, faithful daughter, sister and aunt. She was a wonderful, loving, loyal friend to many who knew her. Her friends ranged in age from a little boy called Teddy, to her Sunday School kids, to a small passionate group of women friends around the country.

Aju’s gifts were warmth of affection, love for prayer, interest in Godly things, and great clarity while teaching. She was born near the ocean and always enjoyed the sound of water. She was a wonderful singer and delighted in singing in her church choirs. She was an eloquent speaker and debater in her school days, and later found joy in preaching sermons and emceeing church programs. She loved gardening and had long mastered the gardener’s secret of planting and patience, skills she applied to people and plants. She expressed her love in action, not just words, though she was also a great cheerleader for her family and friends.

Aju was a devoted wife to her husband, George Varghese, and a loving mother to her sons, Tim and Andrew. She loved and prayed for her boys and husband each day. She was a loyal daughter to her parents Alummoottil and Gracy John and an affectionate support to her sister Bindu and family. Born in Alleppey, Kerala, India, she was also very close to many in her father’s (Alummoottil, Mavelikara) and mother’s family (Kollamparambil, Chennamkary).

Aju was trained as a chemist, earning her Bachelor of Science from SIES college in Bombay. She also did her Master of Science from Bombay University (where she came first in her class), and her PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the University Department of Chemical Technology, Bombay under the guidance of her advisor Dr A.V. Pradhan. After marriage, she did a postdoctoral position with Dr. Clarence Wolf in the Material Science department of Washington University, St. Louis.

After moving to San Diego and after the birth of her first son Tim, she did a Master of Science in Business Administration (MSBA) at San Diego State University. Many years later, after she came to Los Angeles, she decided to be a teacher in the LA Unified School District. She earned a credential in teaching Middle School Science after studying at California State University, Northridge. She taught chemistry at KC College in Bombay, was a substitute teacher in the Cupertino School district, and was a teacher in training at Paul Revere school in Los Angeles. While she was an exceptional teacher and scholar, very few who knew her in church and social circles knew her background because she effaced herself. She was far more interested in others than talking about herself.

Those who knew Aju often speak of the impact she had on others, especially in their Christian walk, from her Sunday School children at Horeb to many women who she drew closer to God with her prayer and affection.

A memorial service celebrating Aju’s life was held at Wee Kirk O’ the Heather Church in Glendale, California on Monday, May 18th at 10 AM. The service was followed by burial at the nearby Resurrection Slope Grounds of Forest Lawn, Glendale. The visitation service was Sunday May 17th from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm and included the first part of the Mar Thoma funeral service conducted by Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa, the Diocesan Bishop for the Mar Thoma Church in North America.

A recording of the visitation service on Sunday can be found at https://youtu.be/oyWqvw_vxNg where the eulogies from friends start after the first hour. A recording of the burial service can be found at https://youtu.be/wyETrcviPTk where the service begins with eulogies from the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, she would have been happy if donations were made to the Los Angeles Mission, supporting the homeless in Los Angeles, a cause close to her heart. Donations may be made online at https://losangelesmission.org/

Aju will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. Her legacy lives on through her family and through the countless lives touched for Christ by her persistent prayer, gentleness, kindness, and unwavering loyalty.