Queenie Hallegua, the last surviving woman member of Kochi’s Jewish community is no more. Eighty nine-year old Hallegua, whom people addressed as Queen Hallegua breathed her last early Sunday morning leaving her friends and acquaintances in deep sorrow. She was the daughter of business baron S Koder, who was instrumental in bringing the super market culture to Kerala.

With the demise of Queenie, Kochi is left with just one Jew, Keith Hallegua, her 65 year old relation. The significance of being Queenie and a Jew could be understood from the fact that there were thousands of Jews in the Queen of Arabian Sea before the formation of the State of Israel. Most of them left Kochi and suburban regions for the Promised Land.

Queenie’s father S Koder was part and parcel of Kochi as he was the one who launched a private power supply company in the metropolis much before our politicians spoke of bringing private capital in this sector. The power distribution network named Kochin electric Company was taken over by the State Electricity Board and since then the people understood the meaning of load shedding and power cut.

The network of super markets S Koder & Co at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi were launched by Koder and the people in the State got their first global shopping experience through these outlets.

There was a street named Jew Street in Kochi which was the hub of business activities. The Jews were  also instrumental in ushering in etiquette, a culture alien to the Malayalis  even today. For the Jews, Kerala and India were homes away from home and they always waxed eloquence on this State for the kindness and hospitality with which their ancestors were welcomed to the State by then Maharaja of Kochi.

Koder Buildings at Kochi built by her father S Koder is a leading tourist attraction in Kochi along with the elegant synagogue. Samuel Hallegua, her husband predeceased  her  and they are survived by Fiona and David. The last rites were performed as per Jewish tradition and her mortal remains was interred at the Jewish cemetery at Mattancherry. According to Jewish culture, there is a requirement of ten male members for such ceremonies, and the funeral was held following the tradition. Two Jews, who were in Fort Kochi as tourists, also took part in the funeral,. Kochi has lost a loving and dedicated philanthropist.