Nileshwari Nath

Mrs. Nileshwari Nath, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and educator passed away peacefully on October 1, 2024 at the age of 89. Her life was marked by a deep passion for teaching, an unwavering dedication to family, and a lasting influence on all who knew her.
Nileshwari is survived by her cherished husband of 73 years, Sidheshwar Nath, with whom she built a legacy of love, strength, and family values that will continue to inspire generations to come. She was a dedicated mother and is survived by her 5 beloved children (Dr. Sunita Katyayan, Aloke Nath, Ujjual Nath, Veenita Bisaria, & Smita Anand), her 11 grandchildren, and her 4 great-grandchildren. She instilled in each of them a love of learning and inspired them to be driven, independent, and accomplished members of their communities.
Nileshwari was born on October 21, 1934 in Bhagalpur, India and married at the young age of 18. She was a bright student and, after marriage, chose to continue her studies despite societal pressure to remain a homemaker. After getting her Bachelor's degree, she later earned a Master's degree in zoology with honors from Patna University in 1954. Undeterred by the male dominance of the education field, she began teaching zoology at the prestigious Patna Science College. Through her years of teaching, she inspired countless students with her knowledge, dedication, and thoughtful teaching style.
Nileshwari's devotion to family was evident in every aspect of her life. When her eldest daughter, Sunita, faced severe health issues at a young age, Nileshwari demonstrated immense courage by traveling alone to Mumbai to seek advanced treatment, even though it meant that she would be separated from her daughter for extended periods of time. As a result of Nileshwari's perseverance and tenacity, her daughter recovered and went on to become a leading neonatologist and pediatrician in their hometown of Ranchi, India. Later in life, Nileshwari also supported her husband and younger son, Ujjual, in their family business until they successfully sold it.
A fierce advocate of education, Nileshwari was instrumental in ensuring that her husband's siblings, as well as her own children, received the education they needed to become successful professionals. Though offered a green card to the United States during a teacher shortage in the 1960s, Nileshwari chose to stay in India and focus on raising her five children. Once they were grown, she resumed her career, eventually becoming the head of the Zoology Department at Yogda College at Ranchi University.
After retiring, Nileshwari and her husband migrated to Tennessee in 2005, where her daughter Veenita had also settled. In their later years, Nileshwari and Sidheshwar enjoyed traveling widely and visiting their children and grandchildren.
Nileshwari's family is deeply grateful for the care she received from her caregiver, Charlotte Patton, RN, as well as from her doctor, Punam Bhandari. Also invaluable was the support Nileshwari received from UT hospice, Dr. Mathes, the Swadhyaya community, and her family's Knoxville friends and Indian medical community.
A short memorial service will be held at Click Funeral Home in Farragut at 11915 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37934 on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 12 pm EDT. A private family service will follow. The family is so grateful for all the kind words and support they have received; in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of your choice in Nileshwari's memory.