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