Kathy Julius was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, on 4th July 1931. She had itchy feet from an early age and came to the UK either in her late teens or early twenties. She trained as a nurse, working initially in Dorset, then in London and Hull. She moved to Greenock where she trained as a midwife. She became a British Citizen on 15th August 1960.
Kathy worked in various parts of the United Kingdom, and obtained her qualifications, including one in TB nursing. Eventually her wanderlust took her back to Africa, this time to Uganda, where she found herself only a few miles from the border with the war-torn Congo (now Zaire). She had a dog there who used to bark to let her know when soldiers were coming. On another occasion the dog saved her life. She had malaria and was on her own. The dog ran around the bedroom all night howling to bring her out of her nightmares. She brought the dog back to Britain when she returned.
She eventually settled in Aberdeen, although had one last overseas posting, this time to the Solomon Islands. After this she returned to Aberdeen where she worked until her retirement.
She was a remarkable person, and much loved by her patients and friends alike. An article in a local Aberdeen newspaper in October 1975, shortly before her departure for the Solomon Islands, prompted a letter from a former patient in England who said of Kathy’s care of her, “She was so cheerful and kind, and was like a ray of sunshine… nothing was too much trouble for her to do.“
In her later years, Kathy followed the path of Swami Satyananda and visited him in India. She also visited other Satyananda Swamis based in the UK, and was given the name Sannysasi Omananda. She was well known in yoga circles in Aberdeen. She attended many seminars, and was always the centre of attention of the “foodies” there, because of the delicious food that she brought, always in great abundance, to share.
Towards the end of her life she suffered ill-health which she bore with great fortitude and in true yogic spirit. She will be remembered and loved by all who knew her.
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