Surinder was born on November 13, 1946, the second of six children, in Barewal Awana, a farming village in the Ludhiana district of India.
She married Gurpal Grewal in 1969 and immigrated to Victoria in 1974. Together, they raised two daughters – working long hours, saving every penny and finding their greatest joy in providing a better life for their kids.
She worked hard at everything she did – from getting her masters’ degree in India, to her job in housekeeping at the Empress Hotel, to returning to school at an advanced age to get her home support certification.
She had an infectious smile and loved to talk. She could turn the most uneventful day into a 10-minute conversation. She called her daughters almost every day for their whole lives and always said ‘I love you’ before hanging up.
Her house was impeccable despite being packed to the brim with stuff. She knew where every last hair tie, spoon and wayward Tupperware lid was and could remember the price of everything – no matter how many years had passed.
The last 15 years of her life were plagued with health struggles but despite every roadblock, she never gave up or complained. She remained steadfastly optimistic to the end.
Surinder is survived by her husband Gurpal Grewal, daughters Neeraj and Preet Grewal, her sister Amarjit Kaur Sandhu, and brothers Amar Singh Sidhu, Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, Bharpur Singh Sidhu and Rajinder Singh Sidhu.
The family would like to thank the paramedics, health care staff and doctors at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, who cared for Surinder over these last few weeks and Dr. Caroline Stigant who gave our family the greatest gift - more time together.
A Private Funeral service will be held at First Memorial Funeral Services, 4725 Falaise Drive, Victoria.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Khalsa Diwan Society of Victoria or the Kidney Foundation of B.C. & Yukon.
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