Mohindar, known affectionately as “Mindo”, passed away peacefully on November 9th, at the age of 94, leaving behind her husband Raghbir, children Sheila (David), Raj (Kindy), Renee (Bill), Paul, and Mina (Gary), six beloved grandsons, Dev, Aaron, Navraj, Payton, Dylan and Tage, and four great grandchildren, Bibhutibushan, Taia, Indus and Charlie. Mindo was predeceased by her first husband, Charlie Hari, and her daughter, Anita Pilger.
Born in Victoria, to a pioneer Sikh family, Mindo married Charlie whose own grandfather was the first Sikh settler in Calgary. After only 5 years of marriage, Mindo suddenly became widowed, and for the next ten years raised, on her own, three young children all under the age of 4. Eventually moving from Alberta, she settled in Wawa, Ontario with her second husband, Raghbir, and worked tirelessly with him in managing their family businesses. Upon retirement, after a short period in the Toronto area, they moved to Lake Cowichan for several years before a final move to Victoria, which was home for Mindo.
Regardless of the community where Mindo lived, she always became involved in many charitable organizations. Be it the Hospital auxiliary, the Red Hat Ladies, the Senior Living Center or the various knitting and garden clubs, she participated with zest and fully committed herself to these organizations while cementing lifelong friendships buoyed by the building blocks of Mindo’s character – humour, perseverance and dedication. She was a salesperson at heart, whether selling ice cream cones or picture mugs and it was this interaction Mindo cherished the most. She loved people and was interested in everyone she met. Mindo loved openly and she loved honestly. Her signature trait was her own self-deprecating humour, be it about elephant dust or a blue garlic recipe, stories which would keep her friends and family in continuous laughter.
But, above all, her children were the endless source of her joy and she was so very proud of each of them, who felt generously enveloped by her love. Her open heart knew no bounds. Always the nurturer, a warm meal always awaited any of them and their accompanying friends. Cooking, baking, gardening, living a healthy life with tons of garlic and ginger was Mindo’s way.
She was resilient, tolerant, steadfast and even stubborn, at times, but lived life her way. The word “No” was not in her vocabulary. If she did not agree, she stayed silent and always, non-judgmental. Forever the model of understanding, she had taught her children by her own actions, rather than by instruction. With the challenges she had faced in her own life, she became the exemplar on how to live a life of peace and joy, even if, at times, surrounded by chaos. By her 94th year, in diminishing health, she was encircled by the love of her devoted children, the very same love that had been shown to them by an extraordinary mother.
Prayers will be held at 10 AM on November 18th, 2026 at The Sikh Temple, 1210 Topaz Ave, Victoria BC.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
This obituary is the property of the “Randhawa” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
