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

July 7, 2026

Hema was the first person I worked with in the Jan Lab. She was eminently knowledgeable, and it was immediately apparent that she was an expert at her work. Hema was always the first person I went to with a question or a problem, and was patient, kind, and an excellent teacher. Her loss leaves a deep void.

Every time we got together, we'd talk about our dogs, and she loved seeing photos of my two. We had plans to go for a walk together soon with them, and I regret that we didn't get a chance to do so. I don't have any new pictures of us together that haven't already been shared, but I wanted to add a couple of my pups that she always asked about and of whom she always wanted to see more pictures.

I send my deepest condolences to Hema's family and loved ones.

Nadine Ramsden

July 7, 2026

Dear Hema,
Thank you for filling my life with so much kindness, laughter, and unforgettable memories. One of my favorite memories will always be the way you taught me to swim with such patience and encouragement. Every time I see the water, I will think of you and remember the beautiful moments we shared swimming together. You meant so much to me, and I will carry those precious memories with me always. I miss you deeply, and I will continue to miss you. May you rest in peace 🤍

Namuna Ghimire

July 7, 2026

Hema, you are deeply missed. You meant a lot to us in the lab. I hope that you are at peace, my condolences to the family.

Amir A

July 4, 2026

Dear Hema,

It was incredibly heartbreaking to hear of your passing. You were not just a colleague or a friend to me, but truly like an older sister. You were always so kind and supportive, constantly offering to help whenever I was going through a tough time or feeling down.
I feel incredibly honored to have known you and to have worked alongside you for these past two years. I still cherish the little stickers you gave me, the encouraging words you said when I left the lab, and the day you and Nuthan offered to drive me home after the conference. Thank you for every act of kindness you showed me. You will always be loved and deeply missed.

Yuhang Wu

June 30, 2026

I remember Hema as a kind, caring, and thoughtful person. Whether that be her positive and patient attitude as I asked questions, or her willingness to help and teach when I was struggling with anything, as she always responded with kindness and understanding.

I will also remember her ability to solve problems, while having a sense of humour. Hema was the first one to go to when there was a lab issue, and she always had the knowledge to come up with a solution, while still being lighthearted. I am grateful to Hema and I will miss her a lot.

Evan Wong

June 29, 2026

Dear Hema,
I knew you as one of the kindest people when we were together in the Jan lab. You always had the kindest smile and were always so patient with me and so many others. You were so knowledgeable and I loved the welcoming and comforting energy that you always brought to every single day. Your motivation inspired me and I will always look up to your compassion, strength, and ability to see the good in tough moments. I am so grateful for our time together. Your light will be carried wherever you go. My most heartfelt condolences to Nuthan and your family.

Brenda Ma

June 27, 2026

Dear Hema,
I knew you were a kind, warm, empathetic, and passionate person from the first time we talked. It was a great pleasure to have you and Nuthan on our cabin trip. All the moments when you talked about Nuthan being a ‘grandpa’ with love and care in your eyes, when the two of you sat serenely by the window in the soft morning sun, when you two got excited before hiking and came back with sweat and joy on your faces, when you were busy preparing food and cleaning in the kitchen, and when you, Jasper and I cooked burgers at the grill are living so vividly in my mind.
I will forever miss you and I hope all the joy and laughter accompany you wherever you go.

Jiaming Li

June 27, 2026

Dear Hema,
Simple words cannot describe the shock of your passing. Although I didn’t have the privilege of knowing you for longer, I felt from the very beginning how kind and warm you were. Your gentleness, a rare thing in this world, was what brought the lab together and made me feel safe when I arrived from Lisbon.
The space you left behind will never be filled in the same way. Since, unfortunately, I don’t have any photos with you, I leave you here with some nature and traditional Portuguese flowers, to bring you light wherever you may be.
Thank you for crossing my path.
Com muita saudade,
Lúcia

Lucia Serra

June 27, 2026

Hema, you were a bright light in this world and you will be deeply missed. You were warm and cheerful and friendly, always happy to lend a hand to a fellow lab mate. You kept the Jan lab running smoothly, and created a stronger and more collaborative environment by planning many fun outings for our lab. From holiday celebrations, to hiking and kayaking days, sharing time in and out of the lab was a joy. My heartfelt condolences to Nuthan and family.

Brenna Hickmott Hay

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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