Ammini was born on December 29th, 1943, in Vaikom, a town in Kerala, India to Mani and Kunjan Madhavan. Ammini and her five siblings were raised by her mother Mani after the passing of their father at a very young age. She was the first girl in her family to graduate high school. Ammini attended Salvation Army Nursing School in Gujarat, India. Ammini worked as a nurse at Catherine Booth hospital in India for a few years. An obstetrician Ammini worked with informed her that she could get a better paying job as a nurse in America and make a better living for herself and her children when she marries. Ammini relocated to New Delhi, India and worked as a registered nurse at the All-India Institute for Medical Sciences.

Ammini met her husband Balakrishnan in 1971 in New Delhi, India at a military hospital visiting a mutual friend. Bala was a soldier in the Indian Army. They were united in marriage on November 7th, 1972. They had their first child Bindu born in 1974 and Beena born in 1975.

Ammini came to America on a nursing visa on September 29th, 1975, alone in pursuit for a better life for her family. Her husband Bala had to complete his Army contract, so their babies stayed with their grandmother in Kerala, India. In 1975 Ammini arrived in Poplar Bluff, Missouri where she worked as a nurse technician at a local hospital.

After completing his Army contract in India, Bala arrived in America in 1977. In 1978 the two welcomed their third daughter, Angela. Due to complications with obtaining visas for their daughters Bindu and Beena they did not arrive in America until 1980. Ammini had not seen her daughters in five years. This was an unfathomable sacrifice she had to make to provide a better life for her and her family. By this time the family settled in St. Louis, Missouri. Ammini worked as a Nurse at DePaul Hospital caring for babies in the Nursery for about 20 years. She was passionate about working with the babies and the elderly. She enjoyed dressing up the nursery babies for the holidays.

 After her retirement she enjoyed attending Bible study and church services at Christ First Church. She spent her free time garage sailing, taking care of her garden, cooking, baking, hosting Sunday lunches and spending time with her family. She loved talking on the phone for hours and video chatting staying in touch with family in India.

Services will be held on Saturday November 25th , 2023 at 1:00 pm at Christ First Church. 2890 Patterson Road – Florissant, MO 63031.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking you to consider donating to the Christ First Legacy Trust in honor of Ammini Balakrishnan. The Legacy Trust is a collection of donations to renovate the basement of the church in order to have a teen area, classrooms, and a worship area for the youth. Ammini loved her church! Please mail donations to the church at 2890 Patterson Road – Florissant, MO 63031.