In memoriam - Ursula Mack

On December 15th, surrounded by friends, Ursula Mack left her body in her house in Samasti after a long period of gradual and peaceful withdrawal. She was 91 years old.

Ursula hailed from Germany where she had lived an extremely difficult life throughout the Second World War, losing four brothers and her family’s land and home. In spite of all the hardship, she remained positive and optimistic.

In the early 1970s she visited the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and met The Mother, a meeting that left her with ineluctable impressions. She also came to Auroville, and later became an active member of AVI Germany and was instrumental in hosting the 1983 Auroville International Meeting in her brother’s house in Laubach, Germany.

Immediately after her retirement in 1990, Ursula joined Auroville, where she became the much appreciated, very first resident physiotherapist, helping Aurovilians wherever she could. She became instrumental in the building of Pitanga and the Quiet Healing Centre. In later years, she mostly helped people from her house, freely distributing nature remedies she ordered from Germany, as well as chocolate, marzipan and Christmas stollen.

Ursula’s friendly and loving nature was apparent till the end. She suffered a stroke in June, 2014. After a second stroke in June of this year, she became bedridden and quite indrawn. But even while going through increasingly profound physical crises, she always managed to convey a steady, faithful and grateful disposition, evoking deep contact and love in the ones caring for her.

Ursula’s remains were cremated at the Adventure cremation grounds on December 18th.