Mr. O.S.Selvaraj was born on the 3rd of April in the year 1947 to Mr.Savarimuthu Pillai and Mrs.Kitheri Ammal in Saveriyar Pattinam , a small village located in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu . He was born with a younger brother Mr.S.Jayaraj and two sisters Mrs.Josephine Mary and Mrs.Fathima Mary .
He lived with his family in Oliyamangalam , Pudukkotai and studied in St. James High School , Palakurichi till his SSLC. He had to walk about 8 km everyday to and from school. After graduating school at the age of 17, he moved to Perungalathur, Chennai to study Diploma in Mechanical Engineering while he lived at his Uncle’s house.
He then worked temporarily at the Village office as a Clerk for about 6 months.
In 1967 , he landed at a Government job at the Heavy Vehicles Factory , Avadi where he worked his way up to becoming and retiring as Foreman after 40 years of serving in the Defence.
After 2 years of his employment, he lost his father who was sick with diabetes .
Because of his good character, prayerful and humanitarian nature , he was in the good books of the people of his village Oliyamangalam , which eventually paved the way for an arranged union of marriage with the Rajendram Pillai family from the neighbouring village.
On 30th May 1974, Mr. Selvaraj got married Mrs. Elizebeth Mary , the seventh child of Mr.Rajendra Pillai and Mrs.Savari Ammal at the Fathima Mary Church in Oliyamangalam among friends and family.
The newly- wed moved to Anna nagar (near Avadi) , Chennai where they first lived in thatched hut for a few years and where they bore three children- Anitha Therasa Pushpa , Lourduraj , and Powlin Arockia Catherine in 1976, 1978 and 1983 respectively . They constructed and moved to a concrete house in 1986. Even while living in a pretty compact place themselves , the couple happily took in nephews , nieces and cousins under their care which were major stepping stones in their lives as each of them went on to shine in their respective studies and higher employment .
The Selvaraj family was a simple, happy , and spiritual one. At every stage of their lives, they were content with what they had and even helped others.
Mr.Selvaraj was pivotal in his long term role as the President of the Parish Council in St. Antony’s shrine , Avadi . He also served as the Parish Council Secretary for a while . He was an active member in the CRMI , Catholic Association , Vincent De Paul society, Parish Catechism and a moral support to many poor families.
Despite working a full time job , supporting a big family , and serving the church , Selvaraj was also an active on-field volunteer for various Parish activities and an avid contributor for his community .
In 1983, he underwent a major surgery and was critical at the hospital when his youngest daughter Powlin was just a month old. During the tough time , his wife Elizebeth Mary and mother Kitheri Ammal were his biggest support . He survived the surgery through God’s grace and recovered after a very testing period of 6 months.
In 1992, Mr.Selvaraj built his first and own 2BHK house in Avadi along with a backyard and a well and after renovation , constructed the first floor in 2004 . Selvaraj’s residence now stands tall , elegant and is filled with nostalgic memories from Four Generations of the family.
In 1999, Mr.Selvaraj’s elder daughter Mrs. Anitha got married to Mr. Rajan in Madurai .
In January 2007, Mr. Selvaraj retired from HVF Avadi as an Asst. Foreman after 40 years of dedicated service. His son Mr. Lourduraj tied the knot with Mrs. Sarah in Avadi during the same year, and his younger daughter Mrs. Powlin got married to Mr. Satish in the year 2009 .
Mr. Selvaraj and Mrs. Elizebeth Mary have 4 grandchildren – two grand daughters Joan and Nisy , two grandsons Jeremy and Jeshua .
Mr. Selvaraj’s mother Smt. Kitheri Ammal passed away in 2008 at the age of 79.
Mr and Mrs . Selvaraj went on trips to various destinations around the world after his retirement – to Malaysia and Singapore in 2010 and 2015 , to the U.S.A in 2012, 2017 and 2019 , and to The Holy land , Jerusalem in 2017 where they got to experience the blessing of being able to see the places where Jesus was born , got baptized , buried and various other sites of historic importance in Christianity.
The couple shifted from Avadi to settle down at Gangai Illam in Medavakkam in the year 2014. Having been occupied productively all his life, Selvaraj was in search of his right fit in the new location and identified his role in re-activating the Neela nagar residential association, and also actively contributing to Anbiyam activities of his Parish – Sahaya Madha church until year 2020 when he was forced to be indoors by the pandemic.
On 2nd of April, 2021 Mr. Selvaraj was called by Our Heavenly God to his kingdom and he left us all to be with him .
May his soul Rest in Peace and in God , as he continues to live through our memories and actions in this world.