Pankaja Hanumadass

Dr. Pankaja Hanumadass passed away on December 30, 2024 at 8:25 a.m. at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Pankaja was born in Zampani, India on March 1st 1942 to Ramanadha Rao and Kameswari Palaparthi. She was the eldest child of seven. Inspired by the early loss of her mother at age fourteen, Pankaja gave up her love of botany to enter medical school. She was the first woman in her family to attend college and remained the most educated of her generation entering Guntur Medical College in 1959. Shortly after she graduated, she married her fellow classmate, Dr. Marella L. Hanumadass.

In July 1968, Pankaja gave birth to her daughter Chandramathi. Together, Dass and Pankaja traveled across the world, immigrating first to Ireland where they practiced medicine and where Pankaja gave birth to her second daughter, Sarada. Adventuring further West, Pankaja and Dass settled in Chicago, IL in 1975. Three years later, Pankaja gave birth to her son, Srinivas. Along with raising three children, Pankaja completed her internship and residency at McNeal, University of Illinois, and Cook County (Stroger) Hospital. In 1984, Pankaja began her career at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois. A devoted mom, she managed to raise her children and be a full time, outstanding anesthesiologist. 

Pankaja’s life is an example to all who search for joy. Whether she was watching the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s screaming “Michael” and “Scottie” sitting amongst friends and family here and abroad, traveling the globe and touching every continent, Pankaja was nurtured by a diverse world of people. She stopped to talk to everyone--at the Marshall Fields cosmetic counter, the custodian at West Sub or in the TSA airport line, Pankaja had room for everyone. Her gift was that she saw God and goodness in all people and never thought twice about generously giving her time and love. 

After Pankaja’s retirement, she spent much of her time with her children, five grandchildren and her faith. Celebrating her favorite activities—visiting and cooking for her children, watering her plants, attending services at her temple and performing pujas in her home; she took pride in every one of her granddaughters’ accomplishments, watching dance performances, attending graduations, forensic and orchestra concerts, and honors convocations by zoom. However, Pankaja’s simplest pleasure was conversation with friends and family. She was a soulful, superb storyteller who relished in the smallest details and made others laugh and cry at her retelling. 

Pankaja gave generously to all who knew her but especially to her children. It was she who modeled the virtues of higher education and hard work, striving always to give them a better life. It was she, who loved beyond compare, showed them the kind of honest love, commitment, and sacrifice that all great parents achieve. A North Star for all of us, she will be deeply missed.

Pankaja passed away, Monday, December 30 with loved ones beside her. Pankaja is survived by her loving husband, Marella Hanumadass, her eldest daughter Chandramathi Vemuri (Prasad), younger daughter Sarada Weber (Zach), son, Srinivas (Fatemeh) and her five grandchildren, Lakshmi, Sandhya, Tara, Niru and Anu. She is also remembered by her loving brother, sisters, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and dozens of nieces and nephews as well as countless friends. 

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Eswari Madhu Chandrika, her parents, her step-mother, her in-laws, and brother, Ramakrishna. 

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