Kanjana "Kan" Puttharuksa

Kanjana "Kan" Piriyasanee was born on 23 February 1944 in Nakon Pathom, Thailand, the eldest of six children. In 1966, she graduated from the Royal Thai Air Force Nursing College in Bangkok and married Bhachon Puttharuksa on 5 May 1968. Kan met Bhachon, a Lieutenant General in the Royal Thai Army and graduate of Chulalongkorn University, through her paternal uncle. Their daughter Kulravee was born a year later. With grit and resourcefulness, Kan moved to New York in 1971 to lay a strong foundation before emigrating her young family from Thailand in 1972. During their year apart, she and Bhachon stayed in touch through weekly handwritten letters. In New York, they built a full and happy life together and welcomed their second daughter, Patira.

In her accomplished nursing career, Kan held herself to high standards with exacting attention to detail. A natural leader with deep knowledge, she was an asset to medical teams in and out of the operating room. She worked at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital in Thailand, served for many years as a circulating nurse at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, NY, and retired as a nurse leader in gynecologic perioperative nursing services at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.

Kan's home was full of warmth, laughter, and excellent food. Her fried bananas were famous and much coveted. She and her husband whipped up memorable meals for their daughters' friends who visited their home. She enjoyed dancing with her husband. She was a talented knitter, and was a passionate gardener who nurtured a thriving Makrut Lime plant for decades. Her greatest loves were her husband of 53 years, her daughters, and her grandchildren, on whom she doted. With kind and gentle but firm encouragement, she supported everyone fortunate to know and be loved by her and inspired them to act with integrity and compassion.

She is survived by her children, Kulravee (Colm) and Patira (Josh), grandchildren Emma (21), Dolan (18) and Beau (6), and sisters Karawek and Kannika.

A private family service was held.