Pamaben Kaniayalal Patel graced this world from September 6, 1947 through May 28, 2021 with her smile, laugh, grace, charm, and love of life. She was the youngest daughter of eight children born to farmers Chunilal and Kasiben Patel in India. Her father passed away at a young age and was subsequently raised by her single mother and then her older brothers as she started 5th grade. She went on to complete the National Cadet Corps training and her college degree at the age of 20.
Padmaben married Kanaiayal Patel right out of college and started a new life. They moved to the US in the mid 1970s and set down roots in the Houston area. They brough their three young children from India and built a new life here. She and her husband traveled the world and lived in many places. She felt like she lived a full life and lived more than most. Over the years, Padmaben helped settle family members on both sides of the family as they to the US over the next few decades.
She was as tough as she was sweet and kind. No obstacle was too big for her. Her will was stronger than most and her love for family and friends was all too well known. She fought her health issues for years with a smile and a toughness without complaining. Always focused on her family moreso than herself.
She smiled and laughed easily and always made everyone feel welcome and loved. Most everyone who met her felt like she was a sister or a mother not just a friend. She never met a stranger. Padmaben was greatly loved and respected by her extended family, friends, and community. She was instrumental in helping her temple and other organizations grow over the years and was always ready to help. No was not a word she uttered when someone needed help. She was a truly selfless woman in all aspects of her life.
She was a wife, mother of three children, and grandmother of five. She is survived by her husband-Kanaiyalal Patel, daughter- Kashmira Patel, son in law -Bhasker Patel, son-Chandresh Patel, son Manish Patel, daughter in law-Sheila Patel and her five grandchildren- Aditya, Janavi, Shanti, Aayan, and Asha. She is survived by her older brother Chiman Patel and family and her older sister Madhu Patel and family. For Padmaben, her son in law and daughter in law were never considered in laws, just her other two children. She felt the same for the nieces, nephews and their spouse. She knew no titles, just love for everyone.
Please join us in celebrating a life well lived by a loving bright light and a true force of nature.
Jai Swaminarayan and Jai Shree Krishna