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.
The last few names of those deceased in April 2025 find mention here as well as those who passed away till May 6.
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 April 2025: Nine of the 13 Zoroastrians who fell prey to various diseases of the heart were octogenarians and nonagenarians. While four patients succumbed to lung disease/pneumonia, three died due to cancer. The other killers were septic shock, brain disease, multi organ failure, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension and septicemia (two each) and old age/general debility, Parkinson’s disease and intestinal obstruction (one death each). A nonagenarian lady succumbed to a head injury. The community also lost a 99-year-old. A centenarian was the oldest to breathe her last; the youngest, a 55-yea-old male. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for April 2024 in Bombay was 84 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 81 years and for females, 87 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 boy to Shanaya Rafaat
on April 3, 2025
A girl to Meherzin and
Fredoon Dadachanji;
April 8
A girl, Arnavaz, to Friya and Hanoze Malesra;
April 9
A girl to Zahra and Xerxes Katpitia; April 19
A boy to Roxanne and
Shahpur Pader; April 19
died
consigned
Rayomond Hosi Irani (55), husband of Anaihita, son of late Dolly and Hosi, mother of Sanaya Irani (Arzan Jesia) and brother of Parvez, residing at C-8, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; April 27
Jamshed Pestonji Baria (90), son of late Bapai and late Pestonji and brother of Dinoo Minoo Patel, late Dolly Eruch Virjee and Mani Baria, 33, Balaram Bldg, Balaram St, Grant Rd, 400007; April 28
Sharukh Mehli Kapadia (70), husband of Roshni, son of late Rati and late Mehli, father of Meher Cyrus Cooper and Carl and brother of Parvin Canteenwala, G-29, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400001; April 30
Kolly Palonji Khodaiji (97), daughter of late Pilamai and late Palonji and sister of Noshir, Villoo Adi Tarmaster, late Bachoo Faramroze Todiwala, Katy Sam Master, Aloo and Kausi, 5/5, Malcolm Baug, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; April 30
Homai Kaikobad Bandhniwalla (83), wife of late Kaikobad, daughter of late Sillamai and late Jamshedji Bhatporia, mother of Nilufer and sister of Parin N. Sukhesvala, late Dhunmai Bhatporia and late Firoze Bhatporia, B-505, Vikas Tower, opp Amboli Rly Crossing, Andheri (E), 400069; May 3
Zarin Kersi Dalal (77), wife of Kersi, daughter of late Hira and late Gustad Dalal, mother of Zubin and sister of Zenobia Hoshang Mirza, Armaity Rusi Driver and Fredi Dalal, A-22, Mangatam Apt, S. V. Rd, Gaothan Lane, Vile, Parle (W), 400056; May 3
Rohington Themur Engineer (70), son of late Khorshad and Themur and brother of Farokh, F/11, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; May 3
Armin Cyrus Patel (74), wife of Cyrus, daughter of late Jer and Sorabji Satarawalla, mother of Rizina Monish Chaterji and Aniza Cyrus Patel and sister of late Sam Satarawalla, 44-A, Batliwalla Villa, Sleater Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; May 3
Kersi Tehmurasp Daruwalla (72), husband of Unhana and Farida, son of late Dolly and late Tehmurasp, father of Zarir and brother of Rohinton, Jasmine Viraf Sethna and Katy Behram Khambatta, 703, Lashkaria Empress, Adarsh Ngr, New Link Rd, Oshiwara, Andheri (W), 400102; May 4
Keki Godrej Appoo (74), son of late Piroja and late Godrej and brother of Rohinton and Sharookh, Room no 1, 2 and 5, Ramesh Bldg, Powwalla St, Grant Rd, 400004; May 5
Mithoo Keki Daruwalla (91), daughter of late Themina and Manchershaw Daruwalla, mother of Cyrus and sister of Rustom Daruwalla and Hoshang Daruwalla, 30, Ruki Mhl, S. B. Rd, Colaba, 400005; May 5
Dolly Dinshaw Mehta (93), wife of late Dinshaw, daughter of late Maneckbai and late Ratanshah Mistry and sister of late Nergesh, late Jal Mistry, late Khorshid, late Homai and late Freny, 36/B, Gool Mhl, opp Shamrao Vithalrao Bank, Sleater Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; May 5
Sharukh Phiroze Bhadha (68), husband of Rashna, son of late Ketty and late Phiroze Bhadha, father of Khojasteh and brother of late Zarir, late Rohinton, Darayus and late Dina S. Hataria, M-39, Godrej Baug, off Nepean Sea Rd, 400026; May 6
Sarosh Dinshaw Calagopi (74), husband of Roshan, son of late Dhun and late Dinshaw and brother of
Sam and late Gav, 386-B, Sir Jaganmohandas Bldg,
J. S. S. Rd, 400002;
May 6
Frainy Eddie Palia (74), wife of Eddie, daughter of late Gooloo and late Cooverji Ardeshir, mother of Farah Palia and Feriel Palia Jackson (Philip) and sister of Dhunjibhoy Ardeshir, Jehangir Ardeshir, Behram Ardeshir, Roxanne Desai and Meher Buck, E-2, Palacimo, Silver Oaks Est, B. Desai Rd, next to Benzer, Cumballa Hill, 400026; May 6
Dolly Godrej Pestonji (81), wife of Godrej, daughter of Ratamai and late Nariman Hansotia, mother of Feringez Neville Dick, Rukhzana and Dilshad Ricky Shaw and sister of Bepsey Hosi Hansotia, Rumi Hansotia and late Freny Noshir Hansotia, D-2/64, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; May 6
Xerxes Homi Anklesaria (65), husband of Arrnavaz, son of late Freny and late Homi and brother of Jasmine Abadi Dadachandji, Room no 8, Dubash Bldg, Kashinath St, Tardeo, 400034; May 7
Homai Ardeshir Hazari (93), wife of late Ardeshir, daughter of late Dosamai and Cawasji Kalwachwalla, mother of Kaizad and late Shernaz Hazari and sister of Jal Kalwachwalla, late Aloo, Homi Kalwachwalla, Dhanjisha Kalwachwalla and Eruch Kalwachwalla, B-2004, Hilla Towers,
Lalbaug, 400012; May 8
Roshan Cusrow Dalal (89), wife of Cusrow, daughter of late Soonamai and Jivanji Vakil, mother of Naozer and Raiyomand and sister of late Rati, Keki Vakil, Jal Vakil, Rusi Vakil, Heera and Homi Vakil, D/2902, Lloyds Est, Vidyalankar College Rd, Wadala (E), 400037;
May 10
Hutoxi Jal Badshaw (79), wife of late Jal, daughter of late Khorshed and Shehreyaar Daruwalla, mother of Avan Badshaw and Ashish Badshaw and sister of Mahrukh Rusi Patell, 17/A-2, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla (E), 400027; May 11
Minoo Shapoorji Bhavnagri (89), husband of late Rutty, son of late Freney and late Shapoorji, father of Shapoor and Phiroza Darius Kapadia and brother of late Jimmy and late Khurshed Pesi Narielvala, Chheda Sadan, 115, Churchgate, 400020; May 11
Kersi Sorabji Bodhanwala (93), husband of Freny, son of late Arnawaz and late Sorabji, father of Naval, Homi, Viraf and Keshmira Rumi Patel and brother of late Dolly, late Roshan, late Homai, Sehroo, Jal, Rati and Pervin, N-12, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058;
May 11
Jehangir Burjor Dhondy (76), husband of Daisy, son of late Tehmi and late Burjor and father of Zerlina, Zend and Arsh, D-2/45,
S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; May 13
cremated
Rohinton Ruttonshaw Kotwal (80), husband of Veera, son of late Khorshed and late Ruttonshaw and father of Diana Kotwal and Kamalrukh, 759, Rd no 7, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014; May 1
Hira Adrian Steven (88), wife of Adrian, daughter of late Khurshed and late Dinsha Panday and sister of late Jamshed Panday, 4A, Rashmi, Carmichael Rd, 400026; May 7
• • •
CANADA
Ontario
died
Hosie Mancherjee, husband of Jeroo, father of Zubin and Kevin and brother of late Dina, Khorshed and Merezban; May 1
PAKISTAN
Karachi
died
Zarin Jehangir Kakalia, wife of late Jehangir,
mother of Meher Kakalia, Kamal Dorab Anklesaria, Spenta Kakalia and
Jamshed and sister of
Thrity Keki Spencer,
Kavasji Dadachanji and Sohrab Dadachanji;
April 3
Khurshed Homi Bharucha, husband of Mehernaz,
father of Nadir and
Auzita and brother
of Pervez and Jasmine Cooper; April 7
Tehmi Vispi Kabraji, wife of late Vispi and mother of Navroze; April 20
Cyrus Rustom Cowasjee, husband of Hutoxy and father of Nader and Cyra Dinshaw Anklesaria;
April 26
USA
died
Pheroze Nowrojee (85), husband of Villoo and
father of Benaifer, Anahita Sia and Elchi; April 5
Arizona
died
Nergish Polly Sidhwa
(89), wife of late Polly
and mother of Shyamuk
in Tempe; April 19
New York
died
Percy Rustom Kavarana (69), husband of Imroze, son of Amy and Rustom, father of Zarah and brother of Shernaz Mancherjee; April 24
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-May 6, 2025
Marriages
Parsi: 20
Deaths: 237
Consigned to dakhmas: 209
Males: 110, Females: 99
Cremated: 28
Males: 9, Females: 19
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver
ERRATUM
In the Milestones column of May 7-20, 2025, when Parsiana had carried the death announcement of Perin Sam Bharucha who passed away on April 14, 2025, her husband Sam was erroneously referred to as ‘late.’
Parsiana regrets the error.