Obituary for Shanthini Bycroft (Rajathurai)
Shanthini Bycroft, age 64, of Joplin, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 after a long battle with cancer. Mrs. Bycroft, daughter of the late Kanapathipillai and Murugappan (Rasamma) Rajathurai, was born on November 1, 1954 in Koddai Kallar, Sri Lanka. She grew up and attended school in Sri Lanka graduating from the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka with a bachelors degree in architecture. She worked for the Institute for Construction Training and Development Firm from 1994 until 1997. Shanthini’s life was devoted to leading others to Christ. She worked for Campus Crusade for Christ in Sri Lanka from 1987 to 1994. Through her work as a translator for missionaries in Sri Lanka, she met Stephen Bycroft. They were united in marriage on March 12, 1997 in Sri Lanka. Together they dedicated their lives to missionary work in Sri Lanka. Shanthini attended Villa Heights Christian Church in Joplin during her time in the United States. She was a wonderful mother and even through her illness her life was dedicated to her children and spreading the love of Christ to all.
Survivors include her husband, Stephen Bycroft, of Joplin; six children, Pushpalogini, Vijaykumar, Sowmiya, Tharsha, Tharshini, Prashanth, all of Sri Lanka; four brothers, Ranjith Rajathurai, of Oakland, CA, Vijith Rajathurai, of Koddai Kallar, Sri Lanka, Ajith Rajathurai, of Joplin, and Parijith Rajathurai, of Joplin; three sisters, Varathini Manoranjan, of Union, New Jersey, Jeythini Nijendranath, Arnhem, Netherlands, Nilojini Rajendram, of Bellville, NJ; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Crystal Tibbs, Lincoln, IL, Harry Bycroft, of Roseville, Il, John R. (Dick) Bycroft, of Joplin, MO, David Bycroft, of Caney, KS, and Penny Skaggs, of Joplin; and 31 nieces and nephes.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Villa Heights Christian Church in Joplin with burial to follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 18th from 3:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. at the Mason-Woodard Mortuary in Joplin. Memorial contributions may be given to Villa Heights Christian Church of Integrity Hospice in care of the mortuary.
Survivors include her husband, Stephen Bycroft, of Joplin; six children, Pushpalogini, Vijaykumar, Sowmiya, Tharsha, Tharshini, Prashanth, all of Sri Lanka; four brothers, Ranjith Rajathurai, of Oakland, CA, Vijith Rajathurai, of Koddai Kallar, Sri Lanka, Ajith Rajathurai, of Joplin, and Parijith Rajathurai, of Joplin; three sisters, Varathini Manoranjan, of Union, New Jersey, Jeythini Nijendranath, Arnhem, Netherlands, Nilojini Rajendram, of Bellville, NJ; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Crystal Tibbs, Lincoln, IL, Harry Bycroft, of Roseville, Il, John R. (Dick) Bycroft, of Joplin, MO, David Bycroft, of Caney, KS, and Penny Skaggs, of Joplin; and 31 nieces and nephes.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Villa Heights Christian Church in Joplin with burial to follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 18th from 3:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. at the Mason-Woodard Mortuary in Joplin. Memorial contributions may be given to Villa Heights Christian Church of Integrity Hospice in care of the mortuary.