Sybil Kathigasu - Marriage and Family

Marriage and Family

Sybil Kathigasu's husband was Dr. Abdon Clement Kathigasu, a Ceylonese (now Sri Lankan) Tamil from Taiping. He was born Arumugam Kanapathi Pillay (1892–1972) on 17 June 1892 in Taiping to Kanapathi Pillay and Thangam. He married Sybil in St John's church (now cathedral) in Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur. Initially there had been a religious objection from her parents as he was a Hindu and she was a Catholic. However with agreement from his father, he changed his name and religion on 4 January 1919 in order for the wedding to take place. His new Catholic name was Abdon Clement (A C) Kathigasu. They were married on 7 January 1919 in St John’s Church, Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur. Sybil's first child was a son born on 26 August 1919, but due to major problems at birth, died after only 19 hours. He was named Michael after Sybil's elder brother who was born in Taiping on 12 November 1892 and was killed in Gallipoli on 10 July 1915 as a member of the British Army.

The devastating blow of baby Michael's death led to Sybil's mother suggesting that a young boy, William Pillay, born 25 October 1918, who she had delivered and had remained staying with them at their Pudu, Kuala Lumpur house, should be adopted by Sybil and her husband. Then a daughter, Olga, was born to Sybil in Pekeliling, Kuala Lumpur, on 26 February 1921. The earlier sudden death of baby Michael made Olga a very special baby to Sybil, when she was born without problems.

So when Sybil returned to Ipoh on 7 April 1921, it was not only with Olga, but also with William and her mother who had agreed to stay in Ipoh with the family.

A second daughter, Dawn, was born in Ipoh on 21 September 1936 and baptised in St Michael's Church, Ipoh.

Their children are:

1. William Pillay (25 October 1918)-adopted

2. Michael Kathigasu (26 August 1919)-died after only 19 hours of being born

3. Olga Kathigasu (26 February 1921)

4. Dawn Kathigasu (21 September 1936)