KOTTAYAM: The parishioners and locals of the Puthupally church have yet to come to terms with the first Sunday without Kunjunju. Many people came with candles and flowers to offer at his grave at St George's Orthodox Church in Puthupally. Many continued to make a beeline to the burial spot to pay homage to the late chief minister.

When he moved to Thiruvananthapuram in 1980, Chandy promised the people of Puthupally that he would visit the place every Sundays. He did not stop that routine for 40 years. Not only Puthupally, the places of worship there were dear to Oommen Chandy. Wherever he was, he tried to attend the holy mass in Pudupally church on Sundays.Pictures of Oommen Chandy sitting in the entrance of the church were circulated many times on social media. He regularly visits the church to pray at critical moments of his life and when decisions need to be made.

Oommen Chandy last visited the Puthupally Church on November 2 in 2022. That visit was before going to Germany for treatment. He visits the church on his birthdays regularly which falls on October 31. He came on November 2 because he could not go on that day.

A special tomb was erected for him as a mark of respect for his services to the state, hometown and the church. Oommen Chandy's tomb is near the priests' graves in the church yard. A heavy rush is witnessed here after the funeral. Although they can no longer see him who lived for them, they still visit his grave.