Parsiana sources information for the Milestones column from various anjumans, hospitals, individuals, newsletters and publications. While much of the material is sketchy, the Bombay marriages and death lists are quite exhaustive.
Data on marriages within the community in Bombay is culled four times in a year from the office of the Registrar of Marriages at the Bombay High Court and on interfaith unions from the Registrar of Marriages offices at Fort and Khar. There may be an inadvertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony. Due to newly introduced bureaucratic procedures, Parsiana has been unable to access the intercommunity marriage figures since over a year.
The list of the deceased with the causes of deaths for those consigned to the Doongerwadi in Bombay is provided by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet with a disclaimer that the information has not been verified or authenticated by them. The Worli Prayer Hall sends Parsiana names of those cremated there. As some parties do not wish the name of the deceased to be published, the actual number of those cremated may be more than the figures shown in the magazine for the concerned month.
Many names of those deceased in February 2025 find mention here as well as those who passed away till March 5.
In the break-up of Bombay Doongerwadi deaths, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases.
Causes of deaths for February 2025: The major killer as always were diseases related to the heart — 21 fell prey to this killer of whom 13 were over 80 years. The other diseases that took lives were pneumonia/lung disease (nine), septic shock (four), diabetes, septicemia, brain disease, hypertension, kidney failure and old age/general debility (two each) and myasthenia gravis (a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles), urosepsis, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, non-
Hodgkin’s lymphoma (a kind of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system), sepsis and cachexia (a general state of ill health involving marked weight loss and muscle loss) (one each).Two ladies, aged 101, were the eldest to pass away, the youngest, a male at 51 years. A 99-year-old male was also lost to the community. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for February 2025 in Bombay was 82 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 80 years and for females, 84 years.
Parsiana also receives death intimations from the Poona Parsi Panchayat, Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, The Surat Parsi Panchayat Funds and Properties Trust, Jhansi Parsi Anjuman, Nagpur Parsi Punchayet, Zoroastrian Society of Ontario, Fram Framji of Karachi, Dr Ardeshir Damania of California and Arnavaz Sethna of Houston.
Data on births in Bombay is made available by the Breach Candy Hospital. Births in other hospitals and private nursing homes are included when an individual sends us information together with a copy of the birth certificate.
If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, they are welcome to write to/email us. Some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be necessary. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement.
Bombay
born
A girl, Zoish, to Rashna
and Rayomand Parakh
on December 18, 2024
A girl to Shiana
DSouza and Tuzar
Baria; February 1, 2025
A boy to Anisha Dossa and Zarir Aibara; February 7
A boy to Suchita Ravindran and Percy Pavwalla;
February 13
A girl to Naomi Sarkari and Karl Kavarana; February 20
A girl to Binaisha and Manek Kutar; February 22
died
consigned
Naval Homi Surty (80), husband of Yasmin, son of late Kaber and late Homi, father of Ayesha Surty Vinayak (Vinay) and Ruzbeh and brother of Behram, late Aspi and late Pilloo Surty, residing at 2/11, A. H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, Kala Chowki, 400033; February 16
Jer Rusi Tavadia (82), wife of late Rusi, daughter of late Dhunmai and late Rustomji Mistry, mother of Mahrukh Tavadia and sister of late Soli Mistry, Behram Mistry, Faram Mistry, Keki Mistry, Farokh Mistry, Bahadur Mistry and Nergish, E/4, Nowroz Baug, Dr S. S. Rao Rd, Lalbaug, 400012; February 16
Daisy Homi Variava (64), daughter of late Perin
and late Homi and sister
of Parvez Variava, Arnavaz
Pochkhanawala, late Kelly Variava and Roshan Variava, H-39, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, Colaba, 400005; February 16
Jemi Dorabji Curravala (85), husband of Yasmin, son of late Dina and late Dorabji, father of Rayomand and Jehan and brother of late Banu Lashkari, H-6, Godrej Baug, near Simla Hse, Nepeansea Rd, 400026; February 17
Dolly Minoo Billimoria (93), wife of late Minoo, daughter of late Najamai and late Dinshawji Taraporewala, mother of Hutoxi Minoo Daruwala and Zarine Naveen Ramdhoni and sister of Mehroo Adil Elavia and late Eruch Taraporewala, A1/8A, Sujata Apt, Bund Garden Rd, Haveli, Poona, 411001; February 18
Pervin Ardeshir Daruwalla (78), daughter of late Goolbai and late Ardeshir and sister of Mehroo Chesson, late Khorshed, Jal Daruwalla and Phiroze Daruwalla, 11, Engineer Bldg, Sleater Rd, 400007; February 18
Najoo Ader Mehta (85), wife of Ader, daughter of late Jerbai and Dinshaw Patel and sister of late Homi Patel, late Cavas Patel, late Savak Patel, late Rusi Patel, late Hilla, late Aloo, late Nergis, late Dolly and late Putla, A-54, Yashodhan Co-op Hsg Soc, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; February 18
Manek Dara Sukhadwalla (75), son of late Mehra and late Dara, 6/8, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; February 18
Hormazdyar Boman Irani (Shapur) (99), husband of Sarwar, son of late Banoo and Boman, father of Parvana Aflatoon Khodavandi, Farzana, Mitra and Manaaz and brother of Daulat, late Hormaz and late Kaikhashroo, 6-C/403-404, Salsette Parsi Clny, Pump Hse, Andheri (E), 400069; February 20
Dara Sorab Saklat (86), husband of Yadgar, son of late Khorshed and late Sorab, father of Khushnaz Yazdi Wadiwalla and Jasmine Saklat (Prathik Sinha) and brother of late Aspi and Yasmine Patel, 3/6, Dhunbai Wadi Bldg, next to Gokalibai School, Dadabhai Rd, Vile Parle (W), 400058; February 20
Gev Rustomji Vaid (79), husband of Katy, son of Pervin Banu and Rustomji, father of Nilufer Mehernosh Rana and Delna Porus Tavaria and brother of Jasmine Tata and late Thrity Palia, 1601/A, Saptaratna Tower, R Unit, Sunder Ngr, S. V. Rd, Malad (W), 400064; February 20
Ardeshir Homi Irani (84), husband of late Zarine, son of late Sheri and Homi and brother of Farookh, Roshan and Parveen, Amil Brothers Co-op Hsg Soc, 402, Behram Baug, opp Fish Market, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; February 22
Darayus Ardeshir Irani (81), husband of Ketayun, son of late Silloo and late Ardeshir, father of Cyrus and Dilnavaz Porus Fitter and brother of Farida, Zeenobia, Maharukh and late Farokh, 3/203, Jhaveri Heritage, Bhabola
Chalna Rd, Vasai, 401202; February 22
Kashmira Burjor Karai (75), daughter of late Freny and late Burjor and sister of Rashna Karai and late Marukh Karai, 1203, Mount, J. P. Rd, Versova, Andheri (W), 400061; February 22
Rusi Jehangir Damania (88), husband of Roshan, son of Dhun and Jehangir and father of Farhad and Kerman and brother of Siloo Sikander Malao, 10, Batliwala Bldg, Khan Est, Stn Rd, Mahim (W), 400016; February 23
Aban Noshir Faramji (75), wife of Noshir, daughter of Ratan and Jal Kapadia and mother of Malcom and Nazneen Zubin Daboo,
A-5, Saraswati, SBI Soc, Irla Lane, Vile Parle (W), 400056; February 23
Temas Aspi Mehta (81), husband of late Jer, son of late Mehroo and late Aspi and Dossu Devgad Baria and brother of late Sheroy and late Neelam Tehmton Karanjia, 3/12A, B. S. Panthaky Baug, Andheri Kurla Rd, Andheri (E), 400069; February 23
Kersi Darabshaw Siganporia (88), husband of late Perviz, son of late Dhunmai and late Darabshaw, father of Binaz Signaporia and Keshwar Siganporia and brother of late Marezban, late Mehroo Paul Cooper, late Amy Pesi Antia, Hilla, Kali and Dinshaw, Navroji Hse, Naigaon Rd, Dadar (E), 400014; February 23
Dolly Rustomji Adajania (92), daughter of late Putla and Rustomji and sister of late Hoshang Adajania and Behram Adajania, 5/6, Cawas Turner Bldg, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; February 24
Nozer Rumi Daruwalla (81), husband of late Zinobia, son of late Katy and late Rumi, father of Ketayun Kurush Fallazadeh and Pollad and brother of Bahadur, Dinyar, Burzin, Julie and late Adiviraf, Seth House, 31, Agiary Lane, Fort, 400001; February 24
Prochie Edal Desai (100), wife of late Edul, daughter of late Goolbai and late Nusserwanji Keravala, mother of Rattu Neville Kumana and Faredoon and sister of Mehli Keravala, Maneck Keravala, late Mithoo, Sheroo, Maki and Rati, Gool Annexe, Kerawala Lodge, Stn Rd, Santacruz (W) 400054; February 25
Freny Sam Lali (90), wife of late Sam, daughter of late Najamai and late Godrej Todiwala and sister of Dali Todiwala, Pervez Todiwala, Sarosh Todiwala, late
Tehmul Todiwala and Farokh Todiwala, B-A-302, Nutan Ayojan Ngr, Liberty Garden Scheme no 4, 2, Cross Rd, Malad (W), 400064; February 25
Sheroo Ratan Bharucha (101), wife of late Ratan, daughter of Bachubai and late Eruchshah Modi, mother of Kashmira Cyrus Kolah and Pervin Minoo Sarkari and sister of late Mani Cawas Patel, E/6, Ginwala Bldg, Captain Clny, Tardeo, 400034; February 26
Soona Keki Machhi (90), wife of late Keki, daughter of late Jillubai and late Savaksha Kumana, mother of Kersi and Tannaz Debashish Chakroborty and sister of Georgi Kumana, late Edul Kumana, Dorab Kumana, Amy, Jai and Kali Kumana, 619, Banoo Mans, Parsi Clny, Jame Jamshed Rd, Dadar, 400014; February 26
Nergish Ardeshir Nariman (97), daughter of late Freny and late Ardeshir and sister of late Roshan Paymaster and late Cyrus Nariman, 711/712, Veer Mahel Co-op Hsg Soc, Dr B. A. Rd, Lalbaug, 400012; February 28
Rustom Cawas Dadachanji (58), son of Nargis and late Cawas and brother of Meher Percy Master, Q-23, Godrej Baug, Napeansea Rd, 400026; March 1
Naval Nariman Mistry (87), husband of Nergish, son of late Dolly and late Nariman, father of Zubin and Cyrus and brother of late Siloo R. Shetty, 22, Sneh-Sadan, 163, Colaba, 400005; March 1
Minoo Dosabhai Daver (85), husband of Ketayun, son of late Jalamai and late Dosabhai, father of Firuza Yezdi Bajan and brother of Noshir, M-9, Godrej Baug, off Nepeansea Rd, 400026; March 3
Rati Merwanji Hakim (102), daughter of late Allamai and late Merwanji and sister of late Jal Hakim, late Keki Hakim, late Noshir Hakim, late Homi Hakim, late Dady Hakim, late Jimmy (Jamshed) Hakim and late Dolly, 16/17-B, Rustom Baug,
Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; March 3
Farida Bomanshaw Siganporia (69), daughter of late Khorshed and late Bomanshaw and sister of Ketayun Noshir Engineer, Lady
Hirabai Jehangir Clinic, Gamadia Clny, Tardeo, 400007; March 3
Bommy Meherjibhai Kawasmaneck (78), husband of Vira, son of late Tehemina and late Meherjibhai, father of Vaspan and brother of late Jimmy, Soli and Mehernosh, F. S. Parukh Dharamshala, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400013; March 4
cremated
Goolcher Sheriar Irani (79), wife of Sheriar, daughter of late Banoo and late Burjor Kekobad, mother of Zerxes, Naozer and Binafsha and sister of late Adi Kekobad, late Sam Kekobad, late Yasmin Kekobad, Silloo and Nagu Kekobad, 59-C, Bazar Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; February 16
Dhun Dorabji Bilimoria (65), daughter of late Gracy and late Dorabji and sister of late Homi Bilimoria and Jennifer Bharucha, Room no 2, Prabhu Bldg, opp Dockyard Rly Stn, Dockyard Rd, 400010; February 23
Maharukh Cyril Pinto (78), wife of late Cyril, daughter of late Shirinbai and late Framroze Gorimar, mother of Shayne and sister of Rhoda, Keki Gorimar, Mani, Mehru, Sheroo and Filli Gorimar, 502, Angels Paradise, Jai Bhawani Mata Rd, Amboli, Andheri (W), 400058; February 23
Roshan Hashmukh Shah (78), wife of late Hashmukh, daughter of late Tehmina and late Dossabhoy Commisariat, mother of Priyanka Shah (Daneshvar Khot) and sister of late Veera Nagarwalla and late Jeroo Chothia, B-16, Tardeo Chmbs, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; February 28
NAVSARI
died
Keki Hormasji Hansotia (89), husband of Annu and father of Nevil, Gulshan, Hutoxi and Nargish, Zankhavav, Tal Mangrol, Dist Surat, 362225;
February 24
POONA
died
Roshan Khorshed Irani
(81), C-9, Konark Puram, Kondhwa, 411048;
January 3
Tehmi Aspi Anklesaria
(84), Sakar Villa, 1980, Convent St, Camp, 411001; January 8
Adi Aspandiar Bhandari (84), husband of late
Khorshed, son of late Shirinbanoo and Aspandiar, father of Armin Homiyar Singpurwalla and Jasmin Porus Sinor and brother
of Khorshed Farokh Batki, 893, Camp, 411001;
January 8
Kersi Homi Patel (55), A-2, Sukhwani Paradise, Bhau Patil Rd, Bapodi, 411029; January 13
Pervez Faredoon Kasnavia (80), husband of Paricher, son of Dolly and Faredoon, father of Dumsaaz and Shahzoor and brother of Noshir and Minoo, Central Apts, Convent St, Camp, 411001; January 26
Jeroo Kurus Coyaji (83), Survey no 65, Victoria
Rd, Ghorpadi, 411001; January 31
• • •
CANADA
Ontario
died
Feroze Kanga (95), husband of Freny and father of Farangiz and Nazneen in Toronto; February 9
Khorshed Firoze (Kali) Divecha, wife of late
Firoze (Kali) and mother of Darayus in Brampton; February 11
Jehangir Hormuz Vesuna (76), husband of Dilshad and son of Gul and Hormuz in Toronto; February 17
Rohinton B. Daruwala, husband of Farida, father of Stanley and brother of Quinee Z. Patel and Jehangir; February 24
UK
London
died
Nowzer Godrej Majainah, husband of Kay, son of Dhunmai and late Godrej, father of Rustam and brother of Navaz Kawas Aga, Khurshid Jehangir Engineer and late Nusserwanji; March 2
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-March 4, 2025
Marriages
Parsi: 20
Deaths: 117
Consigned to dakhmas: 103
Males: 56, Females: 47
Cremated: 14
Males: 3, Females: 11
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver