Hansa Devendra Joshi

Hansa (Pandya) Joshi, age 91, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, May 19, 2024, but oh what a legacy she left behind. Born on April 3, 1933 in Anand (Gujarat), India, Hansa endured a lot at a young age: she lost her mom at age 2, grew up with limited female influence and saw extreme civil unrest during India’s fight for independence. Yet she challenged boundaries by fighting to take correspondence courses and earn a Bachelor’s degree, working as a teacher at the local high school, and accepting a request to work in the Indian government at a time when it was considered unsafe for women. At 22, she wed Devendra Joshi in an arranged marriage; at 25, she courageously boarded a ship bound for America, braving 35 days on rough seas which resulted in a distaste for the water. In an ironic twist of faith, her husband learned to love the water, so she endured many summers boating with her family. The 1st Indian woman in Neenah, WI in the early days of the Civil Rights era, she lived in a community that knew little about India. She battled discrimination and ignorance, yet she built cultural bridges by speaking to countless organizations about her country, fostering understanding, diversity, and inclusion. She quickly embraced western ways and taught her kids to appreciate the best of both cultures. In her 30s and 40s, she earned a second degree while raising three kids and chose to work as a substitute teacher for nearly 40 years. She was a trailblazer for Indians in her community, partnering with her husband and others to pioneer organizations like the Fox Valley India Association and the Puja (Prayer) Group to educate and celebrate India’s heritage and religions. Suddenly widowed at 53, she was propelled into life as a single working mom to a 13-year-old daughter and a challenging role as Neenah’s 1st Indian woman business owner. At 75, she uprooted her life again, moving 1000 miles to Atlanta to be closer to two of her kids but insisting she live independently in a house with a garden to continue one of her passions. At 91, she still insisted on living independently, maintaining a garden, and driving short distances to the temple, nearby shops and Silver Sneakers exercise class. As a senior citizen, she was young at heart. An adventurous and curious spirit, she traveled to 5 continents and kept up with world affairs. She learned to a use computer and embraced social media to stay connected to her family and friends. At her core, she was resilient, brave, compassionate, generous and big-hearted. She had unconditional love and acceptance for her children, a warm smile, a twinkle in her eye and never met a stranger. Hansa is survived by her son, VyoMark (Rita) Joshi, and daughters, Shalini (Richard) Passales and Swati Joshi, granddaughters Victoria Sunita Joshi and Anjali Illiya Passales, brother Bharat (Sweta) Pandya, as well as a large extended family in India and the United States. She is preceded in death by her husband Devendra Joshi, and her parents Ranchodji and Girija (Bhatt) Pandya, as well as her sisters, Madhuben Bhatt and Lilaben Upadhyay. Visitation, a Remembrance Service, as well as Hindu rituals will be held on Saturday May 25, 2024 at Flanigan Funeral Home in Buford, Georgia. Visitation will be 10-11:30AM ET. A Remembrance Service will begin at 11:30AM ET, followed by Traditional Hindu Rituals (optional for guests). To watch a live streaming of the Remembrance Service and Hindu rituals, beginning at 11:30AM ET, visit Tributes | Flanigan Funeral Home - Buford, GA. Donations may be made to Hansa Joshi’s Memorial Fund at Shiv Mandir of Atlanta. This fund will honor her pioneering spirit for teaching people about the Hindu religion and Indian Culture in the US. Select your donation level in the drop-down menu. Donations levels honor the Indian custom of an extra dollar which represents good fortune. Donation Link: https://shivmandiratlanta.org/products/memorial-donation-to-shiv-mandir-1

Hansa Devendra Joshi

April 3, 1933 - May 19, 2024