Born in Kolkata, India, emigrating to Africa, and finally arriving in Canada in 1964, Rajasree Banerjee became a pioneer of the Indian community in Edmonton and founder of the Edmonton Bengali Association. She became known to those close to her as a modernist and feminist who loved her books and saris. A matriarch for children and grandchildren in the community, she was and always will be Mashima, Didu and Ma.