Our much-loved Wife, Mom, Nani, Dadi, Sister and Friend passed away on November 13, 2019 in Orlando, Florida surrounded by her children. Parsanta was born on January 1,1940 in Lalamusa, India. She was the seventh child of FaqirChand and Sushila Sehgal and she cherished each and every one of her seven siblings.
Parsanta grew up in a close-knit family, received her bachelor’s degree in education and was a schoolteacher for many years. She married Karanjit Puri on November 21, 1964. Together they had three children; Rajnish, Dimple and Sonu. Their early years as a family were spent in Patiala, India. In 1980, Parsanta convinced her husband to move to Des Moines, Iowa, USA to be closer to her brother and 2 sisters, and their families. Parsanta worked at a local hospital, cared for her family and integrated into the local community. She loved to share her homemade Indian delicacies with her new friends and extended family. She held on to her Hindu faith in her home, long before there was a Temple nearby for worship. Many holidays were celebrated with 30 plus family members in the duplex - the sisters cooking, the family talking and the children playing. She loved every one of these gatherings.
Family was her everything. She would spend hours on the phone talking to her family, her in-laws, and friends, no matter where they lived. She especially loved her role as Grandmother to all the younger children, making sure they were happy and well-fed. Her children will miss their daily phone calls from Mom immensely.
Parsanta and Karanjit continued to strengthen the Indian community in Des Moines, long after many family members moved away. They were active members in the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Iowa, continuing many celebrations and rituals from their native India. She spent many hours planning and cooking for the Temple, knowing she was helping instill a sense of pride and faith for the younger generation. She loved nothing more than inviting someone over to her house for tea, snacks and conversation. In 2016 they moved to Orlando,Florida to be closer to her son and daughter and their families. They became members of the Hindu Temple and once again integrated into a new community hosting many family and friends in their home. It physically pained her when she wasn’t able to do this any longer in the last few months.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings; Sanjogta Kapoor, Sivitri Anand and Kedar Sehgal.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Karanjit; her siblings, Shakuntala Mehra of Tokyo, Japan; Padma (Ram) Chatrath of Orland Park, IL; Surinder (Edda) Sehgal of Captiva, FL; and Santosh (Wally) of Tampa, FL; her children, Raji (Jenny) of Orlando, FL; Dimple (Rajan) Kapoor of Orlando, FL; and Sonu (Chad) Hansen of Des Moines, IA; her grandchildren,Reetika Puri, Bryce Richardson, Andrew Puri and Ayden Puri; Monica Kapoor and Neal Kapoor; Alex Hansen and Ava Hansen; plus numerous nieces and nephews. She will be forever in our hearts.
