Purna Chandra Bera

Purna Chandra Bera

It is with deep sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our father at the age 90, on July 10, 2023 at Pinawa Hospital. He fought bravely, with unfailing optimism, and as much strength as he could muster, over the few months against the illness that took his life.

Family, friends and community in Canada and India will are left to cherish his memory. Surviving children Krishna, Sanjib and Sonali, former spouse Erika, grandson Ryan, niece Suchitra, grandnieces Ratna, Sudeshna, Titu, and dear friends the Debnaths in Kolkata, and others will remember him always. Dear nephew Santi passed away in 2022 and his dear friend Professor Finlayson who passed away in 2022.

Purna Chandra Bera was born in 1933 in a small West Bengal village. Early life threw him into the midst of India's independence fight and the atrocious Bengal famine of 1943, to which he lost his father. His mother then raised him and his two sisters with much sacrifice. These early struggles imbued him with an exceptionally strong determination to succeed. Surviving two life-threatening infections, he managed to work as an accountant, study and earn a technical scholarship from the West German government, having passed the German language requirement at the Goethe Institute for German studies in Calcutta.

In Germany, he was assigned to a specific company to further his technical studies as well as to gain practical experience. He married, had two sons, and eventually graduated as Mechanical Technologist from a technical college. Due to lengthy residency application requirements in Germany, he decided to immigrate to Canada, as a few of his Indian friends had done. In1967 the family immigrated by ship to Canada. Immigration Canada directed them to settle in Ontario where Purna eventually gained employment in Brantford, ON, bought a small house, and then daughter Sonali was born. Around this time, he was able to sponsor his beloved nephew Santi, who was exceptionally gifted in mathematics, to Canada. He was so proud and grateful to have done this.

In 1974, the family moved to Manitoba where he took a position as Technical Consultant at AECL Pinawa. He saw his 3 children through Canadian universities, and then as a mature student completed his own advanced mathematics degree at the University of Manitoba.

After retirement, he enjoyed summers in Canada, tirelessly improving home, garden and trading skills, and winters in India visiting family and friends, venturing on pilgrimages and engaging in charitable works. His talent in spoken languages, cooking, ability to connect with people, and an incredibly strong will were remarkable throughout his life. His devotion to God, and love of life, and family and friends will always be remembered.

A service will be held July 22, 2023 at 2 pm at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home in Winnipeg. His ashes will be taken to India at a later time. With great sadness, we were unable to see him fulfill his wishes to spend his last days in Varanasi, India with the Ramakrishna Mission.

The family wishes to sincerely thank the Vedanta society, Pinawa hospital staff, Dr Garg, the Vogts, the Platfords, friends/family in India, and Swami Kripayananda, Dr Dasgupta. All have given their hearts, minds and time to Purna over the years but especially over the last precious months with us. Apologies to those whom we have not named above but should have.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thomsoninthepark.com for the Bera family.