Shobhar Chavda

Our beloved mother, Shobhar Chavda passed away at the age of 74 at her home in Addison, IL. Her husband, brother, sister in laws, daughters, son, six grandchildren, nieces and nephews were by her bedside every moment laughing, meditating, and capturing her recipes.

Mom was born in India in 1947 but called the United States her home for 50 years. There wasn’t anything Mom couldn’t do. She left school at the age of 10 to care for her ailing mother. She arrived in Texas in 1968 at the age of 21. There she learned how to ride a bike, fill out a job application, and make a home of a studio apartment in the student housing section at Texas A&M university. In 1990, Mom started and ran her own restaurant business. For many years her restaurant in Lombard, IL was one of the top revenue grossing across the franchise. She had no formal education but she never let herself be intimidated. With the financial success of her business, she bought a home and more businesses, and sent two daughters to medical school.

Mom was a mother figure to many who later settled in this new country. For 30 years she opened her home to all who needed a helping hand. She enrolled them in school, bought them winter coats, and helped them secure jobs. This extended family who Mom fed and shuttled around for many years are now thriving. Today they are computer engineers, investment bankers, pediatricians, radiologists, cardiologists, nurses, physical therapists, and business owners. Mom started with very little and had tremendous impact.

In her free time, Mom practiced meditation and pranayama breathing techniques. She swam, watched cooking shows, and loved to peruse the latest sales Kohl’s. She loved gardening, road-trips to Nebraska and Colorado, and renting a great Lake House with her family. Most of all she doted on her six grandchildren (Riya, Ishani, Simren, Arjun, Jeet, and KK) whom she nurtured and cooked for and loved every day.

In her final chapter Mom was surrounded by family. Her days were spent in a sunny room full of orchids and get-well cards. Her daughters and son, nieces and nephews asked to sign up for overnight shifts sleeping in her bedroom so she would never be alone. Nearly 100 members of her family and friends visited in those final weeks. They flew in from Boston, Brooklyn, NY, San Francisco, Colorado, California, and Florida to thank her for her support. They drove hours and hour from Nebraska to be at her bedside. All visitors were offered a meal and chai before they departed. A special thanks for Gitaba Chavda for making Mom’s beautiful last chapter possible.

Mom would want you to know she was peaceful at the end. Seventeen years of cancer treatments left her yearning for a break. Mom thanks her healthcare team at Silver Cross Hospital for many years of dedicated care and her ‘VIP’ status.
Mommy - we love you. You were exceptionally selfless and brave and you will be immensely treasured. We know now we have to look a bit closer to see you. But surely you are everywhere… in every cup of chai, a lush summer garden, on the beach in Michigan, in a case of perfect mangos, and in a lovingly prepared meal.

Visitation Tuesday, February 15, 2022 from 11:00am until time of cremation 1:00pm at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory 950 South Bartlett Rd. (at Stearns Rd.), Bartlett.