NORTHBOROUGH, MA–Rani Nautiyal , known as Zinda Dil or lively soul, who could be seen dancing at functions and parties in her nineties, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 24. She was 91. She was never 91 years “old” because if there was one thing she hated: it was being old, her family and friends say.
Known as Rani by all, called “Mumma” by many, she also answered to the chants of “NAN-I-JI” from the dance floor. Nani-ji was an exultant spirit who was out on the dance floor as recently as the 2016 New Year’s Eve.
Her spirit is carried on by her three siblings, six children, 13 grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren, and an extensive list of relatives and friends here in Massachusetts, Houston, Chicago, California, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, India, Dubai, and many other fun places.
Nani-ji was born Rani Capur in “the city of Nawabs” Lucknow, in Northern India on May 19, 1925. From a young age, she very much loved to sing and bring melody to even the most mundane settings living up to her nickname “Kokila” or Nightingale. Nani-ji got the chance to share this gift with her many fans when she studied music at the renowned Bhatkande Music Institute in Lucknow and performed on All India Radio.
At the age of 18, she married Prem Shankar Wadhwa, an engineer with the Indian Railways. They enjoyed a wonderful marriage for 21 years until his untimely passing. She met and married Brigadier Sita Ram Nautiyal in her early 40s and they were together for over 40 years, sharing in each other’s joys and adventures raising their six children.
After working for over 20 years as a social worker for the Indian Railways, they both to moved to the United States in 1985. She then began a new career and worked at Digital Equipment Corporation for 10 years.
Nani-ji was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and absolute inspiration to everyone who knew her. She was a warm and affectionate host, gifted with skills to make the most wonderful Nawabi khana. Her stories and anecdotes about all the things she liked and loved were as enjoyable as her food. She was famous for traveling to new places, her shoes, her Silver Sneakers classes at the YMCA, loving good Chinese food and sharing great scotch!
In her passing, her fans know that she found her latest adventure and is cruising around, singing and dancing amongst the stars.
Here are details on last rites and services:
Friday January 27, 2017
10 am – 11:30 am – Visiting Hours at Hayes Funeral Home, 56 Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532
1 pm: Services at Rural Cemetery, 180 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605
4 pm: Chai and snacks at Amrit Sabha, 155 Otis Street, Northborough, MA 01532
5 pm: Havan and Prasad (Prayers and offerings) at Amrit Sabha – 155 Otis Street, Northborough, MA 01532
Sunday Feb 5, 2017:
12 pm: Memorial Service and Celebration of Nautiyal’s Life and Prasad
DONATIONS
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either of her favorite organizations:
India Society of Worcester: Mail to ISW 152 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
YMCA Boroughs Branch: Mail to YMCA, 4 Valente Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 ℅ Rani Nautiyal Donation.
