Obituary: Shyanuja Parathasangary

Loved to laugh, friends said

The last memory Ruth Parathasangary has of her daughter was as she left home on the morning of 7 July, heading for work.

"She did not say anything when she left. She just gave me a sweet smile."

Born in Sri Lanka, Shyanuja Parathasangary was brought to the UK in the 1970s at the age of one, when her father, Sangary, was given the chance to study in Britain.

She and her older sister Sindhu quickly adapted to their adopted country and Shyanuja followed her mother's religion, Christianity, rather than her father's, Hinduism.

She worshipped at the Fernhead Road Methodist Church in Paddington, west London, but was said to be tolerant and understanding of other faiths.

'Many friends'

Living in Kensal Green, north London, Ms Parathasangary, 30, worked as an assistant buyer for the Royal Mail at offices in the centre of the city.

Known as Shaynu or Shy, Ms Parathasangary had "an outgoing personality and made many friends", according to her parents.

She was the sweetest, most generous girl you could ever meet Parents Sangary and Ruth Parathasangary

She could often be found on Thursday evenings enjoying the company of her friends Nell Raut and Andrea Cummings at Chiquito, a Mexican restaurant in Staples Corner, north-west London, according to the Guardian.

"It was kind of a tradition for us," Ms Raut told the paper.

"That, and we would also go to the movies once or twice a week."

Ms Parathasangary would laugh at pretty much anything, Ms Raut added.

'Angelic'

She was also said to have recently bought a house with her sister, which was a source of great pride to her.

She might have avoided the 7 July attacks but for the fact she left for work later than usual because she had been feeling unwell.

She died in the blast on the number 30 bus in Tavistock Square.

"We adored our daughter. With so much to live for she paid the price of man's wickedness to man," her parents said in a statement.

"She was the sweetest, most generous girl you could ever meet. No-one had a bad word to say about her. She was angelic.

"We're all devastated and can't imagine life without her."