Mrs. Savithramma Gonchigar's Obituary
Mrs. Savithramma Gonchigar, 85, of Bellary, India, died peacefully on March 26, 2023, at the home of her son Mruthyunjaya Gonchigar in Potomac, Maryland.
Savithramma was born in Malyam Village in Rayadurgam Taluk in the Anantapuram District of Andhra Pradesh, India. She was the youngest of eight children and the last surviving sibling at the time of her death.
A hardworking woman, she took pride in her cooking and hospitality. Wherever she went, she was asked to share her recipes and teach her cooking skills. She was also skilled with her hands and spent her rare free moments crocheting, weaving sweaters, and building bead figurines. Savithramma was curious about everything in life, both animate and inanimate. Her lifelong aspiration was to see the world, and she finally traveled outside India for the first time in 1999 when she flew to the United States.
Savithramma grew up in a society that frequently stifled women. In spite of this, she ensured that her family members obtained the education that she herself never had. Her generosity made it possible for numerous relatives to study and achieve their professional goals. She was a true Lingayat, following and living the Veerashaiva principles. She was progressive for her time and paid no heed to race or caste.
Savithramma will be remembered for her stoicism and unbreakable spirit. Her mental toughness, physical stamina, and perseverance set the standard for the people around her. She lived for her children and grandchildren who adored her equally.
Savithramma is survived by her two sons, Vishwanatha Gonchigar (and his wife Sharanamma Gonchigar) and Mruthyunjaya Gonchigar (and his wife Hemanjani Gonchigar); and three grandchildren, Anish Gonchigar (and his wife Lindsay Stern), Bhuvanesh Gonchigar, and Uma Gonchigar. She is preceded in death by her beloved grandson Abhijit Gonchigar, her husband Channabasappa Gonchigar and daughter Nagaveni Sajjan.
A funeral service will be held at Resthaven in Frederick, Maryland at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, with lunch to follow the entombment.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to JSS Spiritual Mission in Gaithersburg, MD at https://jssmission.org or any other charities.
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