Vasantben B Modha

Surrounded by her loving family, Vasuben passed away on March, 20, in Winnipeg after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Predeceased by husband Bhimjibhai in 1968, her brothers-in-law Dhirubhai (2002), Vajoo (1997), and Mulji (2016), Laljibhai (1974) and Ratanben (2013); sisters-in-law Narmada (Vasram) and Prabha (Narbheshanker); Vasuben's most profound loss was the passing of her nephew, Piyush, at the young age of 21 years in 1985 at the hands of a drunk driver. Losing her little niece Cheetal (daughter of her sister Divya and her brother-in-law Kishor) in 1978 was a great blow to her. She is also predeceased by her father Jamnadasbhai Sthankiya (lovingly known as "Bapuji" in the Winnipeg community); her mother, Ambaben; younger sister Hansa and her young son Raju.

Vasuben is survived by her sister Pushpa (late Dhirubhai), brothers Jayendra (Chandrika), Bihari (Hassu), Pankaj (Chanda), sister Divya (Kishor) and her siblings' children including Sonal (Shaun), Kavita, Asha, Beena (Peter), Heema (Bally), Neal, Bhadra (Seshan), Punit and their children Shaila, Keeran, Sukvir, Manvir, Ranvir, Akash, and Iyla.

From her husband's family, she is survived by Pushpa (late Dhirubhai), Sharoo (late Vajoo), Kusum (late Mulji), Labhu (Pushpa), Kishor (Divya), Rasik (Sushila), Vinod (Jasu), Harish (Hena), Jayesh (Raksha), Kamu (late Purshottam), Saru (Pravin), Bhanu (Labhshanker) and Illa (Dilip); along with nephews and nieces including Prashant, Ashish(Chalnessa), Pratik (Laurie), Ronuk (Mandy), Ashok (Stephanie), Geeta (Michael), Alka (late Subodh), Kamlesh (Manisha), Sharda, Mitesh, Beejal (Jay), Anand, Premal (Jenna), Paresh (Rupal), Hitesh (Alka), Shital (Anil), Nitesh (Parul), Jignesh (Komal) Sanjay (Arti), Jatin, Jagruti (Ashok), Bhumi, Hiren, Kavita and Jaydip; as well as all of their children whom Vasuben counted as her own grandchildren.

Vasuben was married to Bhimjibhai in 1953 in Jinja, Uganda where she enjoyed a wonderful life until 1968 when she lost her beloved husband after a short illness. Due to the 1972 Ugandan Asian Expulsion and being a British Protected Person, she, along with her family, was forced to leave the only home she had ever known. She arrived in London, England where she spent a couple years before moving to Winnipeg, Canada in 1974 to join her sister Pushpa, her husband Dhirubhai, and their three children Piyush, Prashant, and Ashish. It was there she found employment for the first time and built a life for herself as an immigrant widow. In spite of her only grade five education, she taught herself to communicate in English, take up a full time job, learnt to drive, operate a computer and also, like all of us, became an expert with social media sending and receiving emails and Facebook messages regularly. Fiercely independent, Vasuben worked at Sooter's Studios for 26 years and, after retiring from there, for 6 years at Mondetta Clothing. She enjoyed a lively social life by actively participating in both the local Gujarati and Hindu communities, was regular fixture at the temples and was well-respected by all for her tremendous singing talent and willingness to enrich any and all cultural events by offering bhajans (devotional songs) or folk songs. She was a gentle and cheerful soul who enjoyed nothing more than meeting with friends, both old and new. Vasuben will be dearly missed by her family as well as her many friends and acquaintances.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 2:00pm at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard.

Shanti Path prayers will be held on the same evening at 7:00 pm at Hindu Temple, 854 Ellice Avenue.

The Modha and Sthankiya families would like to convey their sincere appreciation for the assistance from Dr. Paul and his associates at Cancer Care, Winnipeg and Dr Pravinsagar Mehta and his clinic.

Memorial donations can be made to her favourite charity, The Mondetta Charity Foundation, 1109 Winnipeg Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0S2.

OM Shanti Shanti Shanti Hari OM