At 86 years young, in October 2021, Elsie Joseph is bright and bubby with a sharp mind that’s full of memories. At 52 years old, her nephew, Joe Fenn is neither as bright nor bubbly. It almost always happens in large families that one member stands out as the head of the family: usually the most gregarious, loud, and boisterous one or, sometimes, the one distinct by sheer physical presence. But, gentle, soft-spoken, barely 5-feet tall Mariamma Fenn of Thoppil was no trailblazer. No mover or shaker and she was no mold breaker. Yet, 36 years since her passing and the 105th year of her birth, tens and even hundreds of Fenn Family members from Vazhoor and Chempakesseril family from Kollad, Kerala remember her with great admiration and fondness. They attribute the closeness and warmth between the family members, which transcends generations to her being just who she was: an extraordinary example of soft power. Let’s listen to Mariamma’s story in this three-part audio series featuring Elsie, Mariamma’s oldest daughter and Joe, one of Mariamma’s grandsons. Here is part one: