Usha was preceded in death by her daughter Grammy Christian.
On November 27 of 1951, Mr. William and Mrs. Ruthben Patel, residing in Nadyaad, Gujarat, welcomed their 5th child, a daughter they named Ushakiran Patel. Usha was not just the youngest child in her immediate family, but the youngest of all the cousins too, because of this fact, she was spoiled and cherished by all her relatives. She would always get in trouble but one of her brothers or sisters would come to her rescue when it was time for butt whopping. She loved mangoes and during the mango season in gujarat, she would plot with her brother Vasant to steal mangoes their dad put away to make juice for the hot days to come. When their dad would go back to get the stashed mangoes, to his surprise, he would only find half or less of what he stashed away. He knew who the culprits were but then her brother vasant would take the blame and get the butt whopping. While both parents worked, the older siblings would make sure Usha was taken care off. The sister Suvas would take care of Usha making sure she was fed, showered, and dressed in clean clothes. Brother Anil would make sure she stayed clean and safe. Brother Vasant, as mentioned, was the partner in crime. Sister Hema was her go to person if she needed anything.
When the time came for Usha to go to school, she attended mission primary school and government high school both located in Nadyaad. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Philosophy from Vallabh Vidya Nagar institute located in Anand, Gujarat. After graduation, she pursued bachelors of education to earn the credentials so she can teach. She was hired as a philosophy teacher at the high school she attended, the government high school. A few years later, she became a Philosophy Professor at Sardar Patel University in Anand, Gujarat. Besides teaching, Usha’s hobbies were listening to Indian and Gujrati songs, dance, shopping, watching tv, reading the bible, traveling, and spending time with her family. She loved to try her new clothes and do modeling. Later in life she gave birth to a wonderful daughter and named her Shreya Contractor (grammy).
Usha always wanted to come to America because she heard all the stories from sister Hema. Usha wanted to have a bright future for herself and Grammy but it was not possible in Gujarat. Usha immigrated to America in December of 1992. Once she settled down, she went to school in New York to become an EKG technician, and later became a Dialysis Technician. She worked in both fields for 25 years. She brought her daughter Grammy from India in 1994 and worked hard as a single mother for several years. She met Sam Shriwasto in 1999. One day, Usha’s brother, Sharad, asked, "Where is Sam from and what does he do for a living?" Usha replied, “I don’t know but I can ask him.” Next time when Sam called, Usha asked the questions, and Sam replied, “I am Fijian and I am a machinist.” Sharad who was standing behind Usha during the phone call, asked her, “what did he say?” Usha turned to sharad and replied, “He is a physician.” now, the excited cardiologist Sharad wanted to speak to Sam the physician. Well, the physician part was short lived, but Sharad who was one of Usha’s biggest supporters, loved talking to Sam and gave Usha his permission to visit Sam in California. Usha came to visit Sam in 2000 where they fell in love with each other and later that year were engaged. In 2001, they tied the knot and she became Mrs. Ushakiran Shriwasto.
After marrying Sam and moving to Stockton, California, she learned the of the physician culture and lifestyle, I mean the Fijian culture and lifestyle.
She really loved Chinese and Mexican food some of her favorites as she would say it are kusadila, chili rrealyilyeno, kow pow chicken, chow mien, orange chicken, cumin lamb, and szechuan fried fish. She had a wonderful way to look at life and was always smiling and laughing, her laughter brought in light to our lives and memories of her will continue to brighten our lives. We love you and miss you.
A visitation for Ushakiran will be held Friday, May 19, 2023 from 9:30am to 10:30am at DeYoung Memorial Chapel, 601 N California Street, Stockton, California 95202. Following the visitation will be a funeral service at 10:30am. Following the funeral service, Ushakiran will be taken to her final resting place at San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery, 719 E. Harding Way, Stockton, California.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.deyoungmemorialchapel.com for the Shriwasto family.
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