Dr. Padma R. Mathur, 92, of Manchester, passed away on February 28, 2023.

Padma was born in Mysore, India on March 30, 1930, the daughter of Krishna Ramaswamy Iyengar and Rajamma Iyengar, and the oldest of six children.  After studying medicine at Mysore Medical College, she left India for further education and medical training in the UK.  Padma had intended to return to India after completing the program, but destiny had other ideas.  On board the ship that took her from India to England, she met Suresh Mathur, who was on his way to the US for further studies.  After four years of keeping in touch only through letters, Padma came to the US in 1962 and married Suresh a year later, returning to the UK only briefly to take her exams and to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. 

Together, they raised their daughter Anu in Manchester, NH where they settled in 1972.  Padma retrained in a second medical specialty, pathology, and then dedicated the remainder of her medical career to veterans, serving as a Pathologist and the Chief of Laboratory Services at the VA Medical Center for almost 27 years, until her retirement in 1998.  She then dedicated her retirement years to helping to raise her two grandchildren, Katelyn and John. 

Padma was one of the founders of the Indian Association of NH in the 1980’s and was a member of the public service committee.  One of her favorite activities as part of the committee was volunteering at the local soup kitchen.  She also loved to paint and took painting classes after her retirement.  Her paintings proudly hang all around her home.  And most of all, she loved to entertain her friends in her home, right up until the end of her life.

Padma is survived by her husband of 60 years, Suresh Mathur; a daughter, Anuradha Mullikin and her husband John of Auburn; two grandchildren, Katelyn Radha Mullikin of Seattle, WA and John Suresh Mullikin of Auburn; and a brother, Rangarajan Iyengar of Bangalore, India.  She was predeceased by her sisters Vasantha, Leela and Saroja, and by one brother, Sampath Krishna.  She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and cousins, primarily in India, and many friends across the US and in India.

Visitation will take place at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover St, Manchester on Sunday, March 19th beginning at 2:00 PM, followed by a brief eulogy and remembrance, with a traditional Hindu service to follow at 3:30 PM in the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Padma’s memory to the NH Food Bank or Liberty House (which provides transitional housing and other services to homeless veterans). To view an online tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit https://www.phaneuf.net

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