Shanta J. Shah

Shantaben J. Shah passed away peacefully in the early morning of April 5, 2024, at the age of 92. She is remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She is survived by her daughter, Falguni, her son-in-law, Yogesh, her daughter-in-law, Rita, her grandchildren, Adarsh, Dhara, and Umang, and a large network of extended family. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jayantilal K. Shah, and her son, Dr. Nipurn J. Shah.

Shantaben was born in the rural village of Makwa, Gujarat, on September 9, 1931. In February 1949, she married Jayantilal K. Shah, and moved to Kolkata, India, a bustling port city on the opposite coast. The unsung hero of her new family, she helped to raise two sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law while raising two children of their own. She eventually became the matriarch of a large extended family with branches in Canada and the US. At the age of 53, she moved to New York where she worked for the state government for 11 years before retiring to live with her son in Detroit, Michigan. There, she helped raise two grandchildren. She eventually moved to Southern California, to live with her daughter, son-in-law, and youngest grandchild.

Shantaben was known for her excellent cooking, her lively sense of fun, and her deep dedication to seva, devotional service to Krishna. She and Jayantilal were married for 70 years and are remembered for playing FreeCell together, engaging in playful banter, and serving as family matriarch and patriarch.

A funeral service will take place at 11:00 am on April 9, 2024 at the Southern Michigan Cremation Services. In celebration of Shantaben’s life, in lieu of flowers, the family requests well-wishers contribute to a charity of their choice. She will be missed dearly by all those who knew her.