Hemashree Bommadevara

Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.

Obituary

It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the unexpected passing of our friend and colleague, Hemashree Bommadevara, who left us on June 18, 2026, at the young age of 28.

Hema was born on August 2, 1997, in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. She completed her Master of Science at University College Dublin and moved to Canada in 2022 to further pursue her career in research and build a life in Vancouver. Hema was the Research Technician and a valued member of Dr. Eric Jan’s laboratory at the University of British Columbia for the last two and a half years before she was taken from us too soon. She also spent time as a research intern in Dr. Anna Blakney’s lab at the Michael Smith Laboratories.

Hema was dedicated, intelligent, and genuinely passionate about her work. During her time at UBC, she widely collaborated across the university, including with the laboratories of Dr. Pieter Cullis and Dr. Miffy Cheng and with the UBC RNA Core. She also contributed to two published scientific papers, and through her time here, earned the respect and affection of colleagues throughout the department.

Hema found deep friendship with her colleagues who will always remember her warm smile, kindness, and her gentle nature. It was always a pleasure to have her in the lab - be it as a friend to share anecdotes, a confidante to seek advice, or as a respected colleague who always had the answer to your question. Hema has been the heart and soul of the Jan lab and will be missed deeply.

Hema loved the outdoors and hiking. She was a flower lover who enjoyed going to the movies and eating out. Her sudden absence leaves a deep void in our community.

Hema is lovingly survived by her husband, Nuthan Vikas Bathula, her parents in India, her extended family, and many friends. She was a beautiful soul who left us too soon and we extend our heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved her.

This page is a place to celebrate Hema and all the joy she brought to our lives. We’d love for you to share your favourite memories, stories, and photos here — the happy moments, the laughter, and the little things that made her so special. Let’s come together to remember a life beautifully lived.

Timeline

Gallery

Memory wall

June 26, 2026

Hema, words can barely express my grief, or the other emotions that language fails to name.

These moments of life we shared: the Christmas dinner that you and Nuthan organized to make us feel not alone, the check-ins and smiles we gave each other whenever we crossed paths in the LSI corridor, tubing at Alouette River when you and Nuthan held my hands to keep me from drifting away… Oh, how I wish I could have given you my hand to keep you around when that moment came!

These moments we shared will crystallise into gems of my life that I will revisit over and over again.

Suiyang Liao

June 26, 2026

Hema was my first impression of research. She patiently guided me through my learning and made me feel comfortable and cared for as an undergraduate in the Jan lab.

She was not only a knowledgeable leader but also a generous and hilarious colleague. Stories were more fun to tell in her presence, jokes were more meaningful with her laugh accompanying them, and the lab felt warm when she was the first person you said good morning to.

I will miss Hema a lot, and I will always be grateful for everything she taught me. I will do my best to honour you in my future research and in my life adventures.

Julia Fish

June 26, 2026

I remember Hema very fondly from her time at UBC. I had the opportunity to interact with her through her work in Eric Jan’s lab, including on enzyme production projects, and she was always bright, friendly, thoughtful, and a pleasure to work with.

What stood out most was her warmth and kindness. She was easy to talk to, genuinely engaged, and always left a very positive impression. Her passing is heartbreaking.

My deepest condolences to her husband, family, friends, and colleagues. She will be remembered with great fondness.

Mike Williams

June 26, 2026

Hema — you were the glue that held our lab together, always the first to welcome new members and help them settle in. You were the one we could count on to solve problems and sort out whatever issues came up, always striving to improve. You made a real impact, contributing meaningfully to our science. You were also the one always capturing our memories, camera ready at every lab outing — from kayaking to the Vancouver Sun Run to our summer BBQs. But more than anything, you were a wonderful human being: kind, empathetic, and just genuinely good. Our lab is like a small family, and you were a big part of it.
Hema — you will be missed. I will carry your memory with me.

Eric Jan

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