Priscilla Kamala Willey Diwan

Dr. Priscilla Kamala Willey Diwan, of Chaplin, CT, died Friday, November 16, 2018. Kamala was born on February 27, 1958 in Willimantic, CT, the daughter of the late Dr. Charles Francis Willey and the late Dr. Gladys Indira Willey.  She grew up in Chaplin CT, attending school in Chaplin, Pomfret, and India: Bangalore and Mussoorie.  Kamala earned her bachelor’s from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1985, and went on to devotedly raise her two children, Anupama M. Diwan (1988-2008) and Linkesh A. Diwan, while simultaneously obtaining her Master's and Doctoral degrees in Education from the University of Connecticut. She passed at the age of 60 from Acute Myeloid Leukemia and associated complications at Manchester Memorial Hospital.

Kamala was a lover of nature, took in strays (both human and animal), and touched countless hearts. She loved, valued, and celebrated the strengths of everyone she met. Kamala was dauntless in the face of injustice; constant in her pursuit of Truth; unfaltering in her support of the downtrodden; generous in offering her love to all. A fearless adventurer, she moved through this world with grace and purpose, teaching her children through her example of kindness, patience, perseverance, and respect.

A prolific writer, energetic traveler, Gandhian scholar, and seeker of spiritual, environmental, and social justice, Kamala lived 12 years in an ashram in India, where she researched and published, among others, her seminal book “Earth Ethics”, with companion website earthethics.org. After returning to Chaplin, Kamala wrote regularly for the Neighbors paper and for the international journal “Ahimsa Nonviolence”.

Wherever she lived, Kamala became involved in the community around her. She started a school, organized for Students for a Free Tibet, and led Peace Day services in the USA; spearheaded clean-up campaigns and assisted in two large disaster responses in India, held Guru Poornima celebrations in Sweden, and most recently helped found the Willimantic Repair Cafe.

In her own words: “Our greatness—our strength—lies in our ability to love all beings, to strive for decency and justice for all members of the creation.”

She is survived by her son, Link in CT and brother Jeff Willey in MD.  A Memorial Service will be held in the First Congregational Church, 199 Valley St., Willimantic, CT on Saturday, December 1st, at 11am.  All are welcome. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com

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