Hansa D. Mehta, 77 departed this world this week, leaving behind her grieving husband of 54 years, Dilip C. Mehta. Hansa was born on October 12, 1943, in Ahmedabad, India, as the eldest daughter of 7 children, born to Kantilal and Shantaben Sanghavi.  She had 4 brothers and 2 sisters and loved family from a young age.

Hansa enjoyed a full life, the last 47 of them in the United States, with her husband Dilip, where they lived in Rockaway, NJ.  She is survived by her children, daughter Jigna Mehta Baranello, 49 of Rockaway, NJ ( married to Michael Baranello) and son Samir Mehta of Totowa, NJ (married to Nisha Mehta).  She leaves behind several siblings, brother Virenda Sanghavi and his wife Devyani of Millburn, NJ and Aruna Shah and husband Kesrichand of Queens, NY and her youngest brother, Dilip Sanghavi and Neeta in India.

While she worked many jobs to provide a good life for her children, her most important role was mother, wife and grandmother to her 3 grandchildren who were blessed to call her "Nanni"; Nicholas Michael, 19, Julia Anjali, 17 and Matthew Justin, 13.  The 3 grandchildren spent from age 3 months to age 11, going to her house every day after school where they learned how to make Indian food, speak the language and soak in the Indian part of their heritage.

Hansa and Dilip were married on May 17, 1967, and lived in India for the first few years of their marriage, until they took a leap of faith and started their life anew in the United States, moving to the Bronx in 1972.  They left their two children at home in India and worked many jobs before they were able to bring them to America a year later.  They settled in the Bronx for 8 years and made the move to NJ in 1980 to better raise their two children. The Mehtas were the ultimate example of the American Dream.  Hansa worked in factories, as a babysitter, or cook, trying to make a life for two children.

Hansa's entire life was about being devoted to her Family.  She taught her kids "Family First" and had a passion for food, fashion and faith in her Jain religion.  Those that knew Hansa knew that she was an amazing Indian cook, loved to make food for her family but to also entertain for her friends at her frequent dinner parties. Her flare for fashion led to her collecting the most beautiful saris and Indian outfits over the years.  And her faith in her Jain religion was very much an important part of her life.  What she ate, what she did, how she conducted herself and most importantly, how she stayed strong through some tough years of working two jobs while putting her kids through college and dealing with difficult health issues, were a deep part of her faith.

It was her love of travel that led her and her husband to traverse the world, visiting countries such as Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, China, Europe (Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal), Turkey, Russia, the Caribbean, Bahamas, Western Caribbean and Aruba.  She traveled to many of the 50 states of the US and was often in Florida, the Southwest, California and even Alaska.  After her trip to the Canadian Rockies and Vancouver, the only two stamps her passport was missing were Africa and South America.

Those that were fortunate enough to know Hansa knew her for her beautiful smile, her youthful, energetic glow and infectious laugh.  She was always happy and welcoming.  And her declaration of "Family is the important thing you can build." was her biggest, most resounding contribution to her legacy.

The world is a sadder place without the beautiful Spirit of Hansa D.  Mehta.  May she rest in peace after her long and tough battle with cancer.

Funeral Service Friday 11 AM - 1 PM at the Shook Funeral Home, 639 Van Houten Ave., Clifton. Cremation, East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton.