Tejal Patel

Tejal Patel was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed her to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, she possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. She had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and she was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Tejal always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Tejal was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Tejal was born on January 24, 1972 at North Penn Hospital in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Arvind and Dhani Patel. Tejal was raised in Riverside, California. Always able to express herself well, Tejal possessed strong interpersonal skills. She was optimistic in her outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in her communication. Armed with a great wit, Tejal was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Tejal was able to relate well with others. Her occasional role as family mediator gave her the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Tejal was raised with one sibling. She had one brother, Jiten Patel. Tejal had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Tejal showed her creative ability in many ways. She was outgoing and animated. Tejal enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. In her spare time she liked to read.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Tejal was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. Her curious nature was spurred by her ability to maximize her personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. She was good with facts and had an excellent memory. She graduated from John North High School in 1990. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite classes in high school were Math and Biology. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Mrs. Masketill. Some of her accomplishments in high school was winning the California International Federation Medal and achieving the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

When the goal of college was in sight, it became important to Tejal. Again, her direct, “down to earth” approach served her well. She was able to absorb complex concepts and had an acute sense of how things worked. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She also pursued graduate school, earning her CPA certification.

Friends and acquaintances found Tejal an easy woman to get to know, and those close to her would often praise her open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Tejal was uncomplicated and straightforward in her relationships, which allowed her to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of her best friends were Bhavna Bhakta and Alice Tsai.

On July 4, 1992 Tejal exchanged wedding vows with Vikas Patel at the Riverside Auditorium in Riverside, California. Tejal was attentive to Vikas's feelings, and she charmed Vikas and others with her gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Tejal was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid herself, Tejal identified with the inquisitive and creative side of her children’s personalities. She was able to direct her energy and spontaneity towards helping her children acquire added common sense skills. Tejal was blessed with three children, two sons, Rohan and Rahul, and one daughter, Riya.

Tejal was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around her. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Tejal’s strengths included being able to think on her feet. She could be a leader who sought impact for her decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Tejal was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. She was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Tejal could multi-task, and she was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing her to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in her work environment. Her primary occupation was as an Accountant. She stayed home in 2003 to raise her twins, Riya and Rohan.

Because she liked to take risks, Tejal was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. She was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. Tejal was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list was baseball.

Tejal was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made her a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which she belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, Tejal worked steadily to meet any organization’s goals. Throughout her later years, Tejal was an active member of the school PTA.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Tejal truly enjoyed. She preferred to seek out excitement wherever she went and she was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” She was willing to leave her plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Italy in 1996 and Aruba in 2010.

Tejal passed away on May 16, 2013 at home in San Jose, California. She is survived by her husband, Vikas; and her three children Riya, Rohan,and Rahul. Services were held at Oak Hill Funeral Home in the Chapel of the Oaks in San Jose, California.

Tejal was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, she relied on her senses to increase her involvement and awareness of others. She was always able to provide amusing repartee to her friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Tejal had a theme song written about her, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” She enjoyed her life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Tejal Patel.