Kamalam Dharmarajan

In Loving Memory of

Mrs. Kamalam Dharmarajan

Mrs. Kamalam Dharmarajan, also known as Sitalakshmi, was born in 1926 and raised in Chathapuram, Palakkad, a small village in Kerala, India, a place that shaped her deep love for nature, learning, and community. The daughter of a distinguished district judge, Kamalam grew up moving between cities as her father served in different postings, yet Chathapuram always remained her anchor and home. She was the eldest of five siblings and cherished her memories with them and the entire village that raised her. Throughout her 38 years living in the US, she often reminisced about the beauty of Chathapuram and the strong connection she felt to her birthplace. Growing up, she loved jumping into the Bharathapuzha river with friends, swimming fearlessly, and learning new languages (Tamil, Hindi, English, Malayalam, and Sanskrit), a passion that would stay with her for life.

In 1942, she married K. V. Dharmarajan, beginning a partnership grounded in shared values, discipline, and devotion to family. She was a proud mother of four, grandmother of eight, and great-grandmother of eight, and her family was always the center of her world. She would go to the ends of the Earth for them, literally. She travelled from Detroit to Phoenix to Australia to New Zealand to visit her children. Everything she did, every delicious meal prepared, every prayer recited, every plant nurtured was an expression of her love and sense of responsibility to those around her.

Kamalam was known for her positive spirit, independence, and commitment to doing things the "right way." She held to her tried-and-true ways, insisting on handwashing and clothesline-drying her sarees even in Detroit winters. She never used an iron, yet her clothes were impeccably wrinkle-free. To her, these methods were not negotiable, and she carried them with pride. And, most of the time, she was right!

Kamalam was a lifelong learner and spent countless hours developing her passions, many of which became gifts she shared with others. Her incredible culinary delights, from badam halwa to lemon pickle, were famously known across the Southeast Michigan community and eagerly anticipated at gatherings. Affectionately known as "Thulasi Mami," she had a remarkable green thumb, growing tomatoes, chiles, and beautiful flowers in her garden. She lived organically, long before "organic" was ever a trend, nourishing her garden with natural compost from her kitchen vegetable scrapings. Every deity in the home shrine was adorned with fresh flower garlands she hand-made. Even at age 99, she continued making garlands guided by the memory and dexterity in her hands, despite limited vision. For years, she generously donated these garlands to the temple and shared thulasi (Indian basil) seedlings with the entire community. She held a deep respect for nature, never allowing anyone to harm a plant, animal, or insect under her watch.

She never shied away from learning new skills. As technology advanced, Kamalam advanced with it. From cassette players and CDs to iPods, iPads, and airpods, she embraced technology to support her interests. She FaceTimed with family across the world, found her favorite Carnatic music on YouTube, and even livestreamed pujas and religious ceremonies from temples across India. On summer afternoons, she loved to sit out on the deck, bask in the sunshine wearing her stylish sunglasses and sunhat, Airpods in each ear, one iPad resting on her lap, and the second iPad charging nearby - a familiar and much-loved sight to those around her.

Yet even with the limitless possibilities technology offered, she remained firmly grounded in faith and tradition. Each morning followed a disciplined rhythm: she showered first, singing slokas as she moved through the house, offered milk to God before her morning coffee, spent time in prayer and reading scriptures, and later plucked flowers from the garden to make garlands. Even after open heart and hip surgeries, she made sure to perform a full namaskaram (prostration) every single day. Until her passing, she could seamlessly recite countless slokas and vividly tell stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Mrs. Kamalam Dharmarajan leaves behind a legacy of resilience, devotion, and generosity. She raised a close-knit family and took immense pride in her children and their accomplishments. She especially cherished her role as a grandmother and great-grandmother, finding deep joy in caring for her grandchildren and teaching them about their faith and traditions. She will be remembered for her witty humor, her respect for all living things, and her unwavering commitment to family, faith, and the principles she held dear. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Family will receive friends Monday, January 19, 2026 10AM until the Puja Service at 11:30 AM at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Rd. (between Maple and Big Beaver), Troy. 248-362-2500. The service will be available to view via livestream at the link on the website obituary. The link for livestream will be available here.