Jesha John

Jesha Rebecca John, 43, departed on Feb. 4 peacefully from her home in Hopkinton to be with her heavenly father after a 3 1/2-year-long battle with cancer, surrounded by her husband (Roshan John), children (Ethan and Ryan), parents, in-laws, brother, brother and sister in-law, loved ones, clergy and close friends at the appointed time.

Jesha was married to Roshan John, her confidant, partner and friend for 17 years. Together, they raised two wonderful children, Ethan John and Ryan John. She was very strong in her faith and was a firm believer in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her favorite verses were Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” and 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Jesha was born in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, to Abraham Paul Robson and Saramma Robson on Jan. 18, 1981. She grew up in Kottayam, Kerala, during her early childhood and then moved to Coonoor, Nilgiris, for middle school at St. Joseph’s Convent and completed her high school from Stanes High Secondary School. She fared extremely well in academics and athletics, winning many awards for track at the district and state level as well as in college. She loved to dance and was a trained India classical dancer (Bharatanatyam). Jesha completed her bachelor’s in engineering with a specialization in electronics and instrumentation from Kongu Engineering College, Erode, and her master of science from BITS, Pilani-India. Immediately after college, she started working for a cybersecurity firm, Odyssey Technologies India, and thereafter for IBM Global Services in Bangalore, India. In the United States, she worked for Dell and NTT Data for their prestigious health care client, Harvard Pilgrim.

She was a very active member of the St Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church in Boston and took a profound interest in Sunday School, MGOCSM, MMVS and spiritual activities. She also took a deep interest in Divyabodhanam (faith and liturgy) and took leadership roles when able for the Parish Day and other activities benefiting children. She also was active in the South Asian community in Boston, KANE & NEMA for Onam and community events. She loved to bake, paint and sew.

Jesha’s family owes their sincere gratitude to the church family, immediate neighbors, friends and many more who were a constant source of comfort and strength during her tough battle with cancer. All through her battle, she chose to be an inspiration and to share grace and strength, instead of pain and sadness. She wanted that to be her legacy. She started a blog (jeshajohn.wixsite.com/instrumentofgod) to write about her faith, testimony and journey. Jesha was confident, as Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

A wake is scheduled on Friday, Feb. 9, from 4:30-8 p.m., and a funeral service on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 9 a.m.-noon, both at St. Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church, 65 Great Road, Maynard, MA 01754, Interment will take place Feb. 10 around noon at St. Bridget’s Cemetery, Maynard. Services are under the care of Acton Funeral Home.

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.