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 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 December 2024 find mention here as well as those who passed away till January 26.
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 December 2024: Heart disease felled 17 Zoroastrians. Thirteen of the 17 had crossed 80 years. While pneumonia/lung disease and cancer took the lives of seven patients each, five succumed to hypertension and four each to diabetes and septic shock. Old age/general debility claimed three victims and gastro-intestinal bleed, two. Cachexia (a condition that causes significant weight and muscle loss), brain disease, urinary tract infection, sepsis and kidney failure took isolated lives. A 101-year-old male was the oldest to breathe his last. The youngest, a female, aged 47. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for December 2024 in Bombay was 81 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 80 years and for females, 82 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.
BANGALORE
died
Sharukh Eruchshaw Mistry (75), husband of Renu, son of late Roshan (Nergish) and late Eruchshaw, father of Arzu Arvind Thyagarajan and Umeed and brother of late Dadi, late Povru Bomi Writer, late Dinoo Dara Rivetna and late Kety Bomi Bhaka on January 11, 2025
Bombay
died
consigned
Marazban Homi Irani (80), son of late Aloo and late Hormasji and brother of Rustom, late Darayus
and late Zarine Kavarana, residing at Room no 3, Pandit Mans, Nusserwanji Petit Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; January 2
Ruton Jamshedji Dubash (99), son of late Bapai and late Jamshedji and brother of late Framroze and late Minoo, 631-A, Meher Villa, Muncherji Joshi Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014; January 3
Hoshang Bamanshaw Elavia (81), husband of Freny, son of late Najamai and late Bamanshaw, father of Nozer and brother of late Parvez, Freny Kerawalla, Perin Dapodiwalla and late Rusi, D-1/33, S. B. Bharucha Baug, opp Shoppers Stop, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; January 3
Coomi Jehangir Mevawala (96), wife of late Jehangir, daughter of late Meherbai and late Sohrabji Madan and sister of late Dara Madan, Dosan and Hoshang Madan, 13, Kanga Bldg, Dr B. Ambedkar Rd, Dadar, 400014; January 3
Dara Peshotan Taraporewalla (74), son of late Dhunmai and late Peshotan and brother of Pervin Nariyosang Turel, Farrokh and late Khurshid Darayus Patel, 704, Rosa Mystica, Tulsiwadi, Tardeo, 400034; January 3
Sam Maneck Gotla (89),
son of late Banu and Manek, J-22, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, Colaba, 400001; January 6
Marazban Minocher Toddywalla (89), husband of Roshan, son of late Coomi and late Minocher and father of Anahita Kairus Hansotia and Benaifer Karl Photographer, 2A/22, Tata Mills Co-op Hsg Soc Ltd, Elphinstone Rd, Parel, 400012; January 6
Marzban Hormusji Jamula (79), husband of Pervin, son of late Dhunmai and late Hormusji and father of Burzin and Jehangir, 44/F, Dhun Bldg, Batliwala Villa, opp Grant Rd Stn, Sleater Rd, Grant Rd (W), 400007; January 7
Shirin Hoshang Homavazir (79), wife of Hoshang, daughter of late Banoo and late Minocher, mother of Aban Rohinton Umrigar
and Zarir and sister of Keikobad, Veera Malkam Engineer, late Ardeshir
and late Gaver, 738, Shirin
Villa, Dr Ghanti Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014; January 10
Arni Manekshaw Kharas (86), daughter of late Piroja and late Maneckshaw and sister of late Mani, Homai, Viloo, Nari Kharas, Aspi Kharas and Eraj Kharas, 5/1, Sir Ratan Tata Clny, opp Drum Beats, Tulsiwadi, Tardeo Rd, 400034;
January 10
Yasmin Karl Bandrawala (62), wife of Karl, daughter of Bachi and late Jimmy Garda, mother of Zaran
and Simone Bandrewala and sister of Farida Garda, 701, Prem Jeewan, 7th Rd, Khar, 400052; January 11
Freny Rustom Wankadia (95), wife of late Rustom, daughter of late Alamai and late Savaksha Gati, mother of Arnavaz Firdosh Anklesaria and Phiroze and sister of Ardarbad Gati, Jeroo and late Jamshed Gati, 402/2, Meherabad, Behram Baug Parsi Clny, Oshiwara, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; January 11
Behram Boman Irani (94), husband of late Goolnar, son of late Shirin and late Boman and brother of late Khurshid, late Khodaram and late Rustom, 21/22, Pundole Bldg, J. D. Lane, Sleater Rd, 400007;
January 12
Aspi Edulji Writer (78), son of Homai and Edulji, and brother of late Gool Pervez Panthaky, B-304, Amrut Ngr, Ishwar Ngr, Vitawa, Thana, 400605; January 12
Darayus Ardeshir Bhathena (86), husband of Katie, son of late Jini and late Ardeshir Bhathena, mother of Farad, Navaz and Zoru and brother of Jamshed and Anu Rohinton Aga, T-149, Meherabad, Azad Rd, Juhu Koliwada, 400049; January 15
Shera Sorab Irani (88), wife of late Sorab, mother of Phiroza Pervez Khoshravi, Tirandaz and late Jamshed, 21, Hira Manzil, off D. B. Marg, 21, Gilder Lane, 400008; January 15
Dinshaw Maneck Mistry (97), son of Putlibai and late Maneck, father of Shireen Mistry and brother of late Behram and late Silloo Minoo Sethna, Sethna Bldg, 29-29A, Nabroji Seth St, behind S. K. Patil Garden, off Charni Rd, 400002; January 15
Nauzer Boman Antia (67), husband of Mahatab, son of Meher and late Boman and father of Benaz Delzad Panthaki, 4/10, B. S. Panthaky Baug, Hargovind Das Sanatorium Rd, Andheri (E), 400069; January 17
Jeroo Daruwalla (85), wife of late Fali, daughter of late Sheroo and late Sorabji Bonesetter, mother of Farokh and sister of Zarin Rohinton Panthaki and Noshir Hadvaid, 29/A, Parijat Soc, Vishnu Baug, near Shoppers Stop, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; January 17
Katie Meherji Ghadiali (85), daughter of late Dinamai and late Meherji and sister of late Frenny and Dolly, 12, Kashinath Bldg no 2, Kashinath St, Tardeo Rd, 400034; January 18
Hoshang Khodamorad Khosravi (77), husband of Katayun, son of late Homayun and late Khodamorad, father of Meherzad and Mehernaaz Jahanbux Kola and brother of Parvez and late Minochehr, Zainab Manzil, Rajaram Mohan Roy Rd, Prarthna Samaj, 400004;
January 19
Pesi Savakshaw Sidhva (90), husband of late Jolly, son of late Banoobai and late Savakshaw, father of Kayomarz and Benaifer Vispi Patel and brother of Havovi Dadachanji and late Parvez, 402, Dina Bldg, 53, Maharshi Karve Rd, Marine Lines, 400002; January 19
Nina Minoo Sarkari (82), wife of Minoo, daughter of late Khorshed Banoo and late Savaksha Tavadia, mother of Mehroze Firdosh Gardin and sister of Sarosh, late Jahanbux, Bakhtiyar and Jimmy, 790, Western Court, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014; January 20
Rustomji Framji Bhathena (89), husband of Jaloo, son of late Shirinbai and late Framji, father of Kaizad and Adil and brother of late Khorshed and Dolly Kekas Udwadia, 302, Lifescapes, Ambar Co-op Hsg Soc, S. J. Marg, Lower Parel (W), 400013; January 21
Nelly Sharuckh Wadia (69), wife of Sharuckh, daughter of late Gool and late Sorab Sidhwa, mother of Jehanbux, Viraf and Hormazd and sister of Yasmin Percy Bhiwandiwalla, Shiraz Homi Divecha and late Cyrus, D/3-85, S. B. Bharucha Baug, opp Shoppers Stop, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; January 21
Neville Keki Sumariwalla (70), son of late Mehroo and late Keki and brother of Farida Dara Engineer and Behroze Kersi Nazer, 2, Bai Mahal Bldg no 9, Wadia St, near Tardeo Bus Depot, Tardeo, 400034; January 23
Aspie Pestonjee Tavadia (92), husband of Zarin, son of late Maneck and late Pestonjee, father of Farzana Tavadia and Ruzbeh and brother of late Jal and Sarosh, 204, Home Court, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri (W), 400053; January 23
Freny Jal Gimi (82), wife of late Jal, daughter of late Gool and late Laoji Lavangia, mother of Shahrukh and sister of late Burjor Lavangia, 10-347/C, United Chmbs, Grant Rd (E), 400007; January 24
Malcolm Purvis Solina (57), husband of Nafisa, son of late Nergish and late Purvis and father of Scherazad, G-2, 451, Dindoshilla Bldg, 45th Rd, opp Khar Gymkhana, 400052; January 24
Adi Framroze Dapoliwalla (74), son of Banoobai and Framroze and brother of Silloo Phiroze Patel and late Aspi, Room no 13, 174, Danawalla Bldg, opp Nowroz Baug, Dr S. S. Rao Rd, Lalbaug, 400012;
January 26
Hilla Rusi Madan (82), wife of late Rusi, daughter of late Piroja and late Darabsha Mistry, mother of Ruzbeh and sister of Noshir Mistry, late Pervez Mistry and late Daulat, N/8, Nowroz Baug, Ganesh Lane, Dr S. S. Rao Rd, Lalbaug, 400012; January 26
cremated
Teena Rusi Patel (88), wife of late Rusi, daughter of late Khorshed and Jehangir Warden and sister of Mona Wadia, 8-B, Goolrukh Bldg, 83, Abdul Gaffar Khan Rd, Worli Seaface, 400030; January 1
Rusi Framji Daver (83), husband of Shernaz, son of Silla and Framji, father of Urmez and brother of late Maneck, 501/A, Blue Bird Co-op Hsg Soc Ltd, Rizvi Complex, Bandra (W), 400050; January 4
Rustom Phiroze Soonawala (96), husband of Piloo, son of Piroja and Phiroze, father of Jenai Burjor Banaji, Kamal Neville Tata, Behram and Feroze and brother of late Jamshed, late Fardun and late Soli, 121, Khushnuma Apts, Charmichael Rd, Malabar Hill, 400026; January 4
Wille Dadiba Bhathena (86), wife of Dadiba, daughter of Coomie and Bahadur Vazir, mother of Farida Bhathena and Goolrukh Bhathena and sister of Silloo Bahadur Vazir, 2102-A, Videocon Towers, Thakur Complex, Kandivali (E), 400101; January 23
Putli Rattan Pavri (89), wife of Rattan, daughter of Aloo and Manchershaw, mother of Ruby and Diana and sister of late Freny, late Dolly and late Burjor; 702-A, Raj Mandir, Raheja Complex, Versova, Andheri (W), 400061; January 25
POONA
died
Shapur Ferdun Mistry (77), husband of late Farida, son of late Silla and late Ferdun, father of Zubin and brother of Kawas, R-8, Padma Vilas Enclave, Wanowrie, 411040; December 3, 2024
Shernawaz Rustom Mody (95), wife of late Rustom, daughter of late Shirin
Jamshed Irani, mother
of Jamshed and sister
of late Shapur, Homai
and Dinshaw, 145,
Mahatma Gandhi Rd, 411001; December 4
CANADA
Ontario
died
Manoucher Mehraban
Ghibi, husband of Farangis
and father of Fariborz, Shirin, Farshid and Sheila; January 2, 2025
Meheli Meherji Mistry,
husband of Meherangez,
son of Mehroo and
Meherji, father of Navaz and Meherji and brother
of Dhun Mistry in
Mississauga; January 18
PAKISTAN
Karachi
died
Pervez Kaikhushroo Jijina, husband of late Kety, son
of Ranibai and Kaikhushroo, father of Havovee Rustomshah Maneckji, Tehmuresp and Yezdi and brother of Perin Pestonjee Patel; January 21
Rusi Jamshedji Mulla, husband of Hutoxi, father of Jehanara Mulla and Amy Darayush Sethna and brother of Dara, Dolly Soli Mehta, late Sam and late Maneck Dinshaw Jassawala; January 21
Perin Pestonjee Patel, wife of late Pestonjee, daughter of Ranibai and Kaikhushroo Jijina, mother of Adil and
Jesmin Piran Karanjia
and sister of late Pervez Jijina, January 21
Jeroo Maneck Wania, wife of late Maneck, mother
of Dinaz Freddy Sethna
and Yezdi and sister of Adarbad Gati, late Freny Wankadia and late Jamshed Gati; January 25
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-26, 2025
Marriages
Parsi: —
Deaths: 36
Consigned to dakhmas: 31
Males: 19, Females: 12
Cremated: 5
Males: 2, Females: 3
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver