Harinder (Vimal to her family and close friends) passed away peacefully on January 9, 2024 in the comfort of her own home, with her daughter Rachna, and niece Renu, by her side. She made this world a better place through the loving energy she brought to every situation and those who were lucky enough to be in her world felt the warmth of her welcoming smile and the vastness of her compassionate heart.
She was born in Rawalpindi, India (now Pakistan) to Harbans Kaur and Thakur Singh Walia. We know she was born on a Sunday…or perhaps a Tuesday, in the first weeks of December, 1939, but the actual records were lost during the chaos of the Partition, as the family fled for their lives with only the clothes on their back. Vimal was only 8 years old when her whole world was turned upside down and could barely understand the gravity of the situation but the events she did see would leave a lifelong mark on her and the memories would often return in the form of terrifying dreams that haunted her throughout her life.
Her family eventually settled in Dharamsala, a small picturesque mountain town in the Himalayas. She thrived there and created a network of friendships that would last a lifetime. She was the youngest of four surviving siblings (as her brother was lost during the Partition) and like many youngest children, she was carefree and lively, a very sweet, fun-loving child. It was in Dharamsala that she completed her education, earning a BA and teaching credential. She would soon put that to good use, teaching High School English and History in a nearby town. Her nieces and nephew recall how much they loved walking as far as they were allowed so they could welcome her as she returned home from work because she always greeted them with her warm smile and hug that would make each of them feel as if they were the center of the world- a trait that would continue as everyone who has ever been lucky enough to make her acquaintance knows.
In early 1963 she would become engaged to Dr. Manjit Singh Nagi, the son of an old family friend. During their 2-year engagement, they would write to each other regularly and when a letter from him would arrive, she would grab her Oxford dictionary and sit down with a cup of chai to decipher the love letter, as it would undoubtedly be filled with multi-syllabic words that this English teacher wasn’t familiar with! On November 22, 1964, they would become husband and wife, the beginning of an extremely supportive, loving marriage. They settled in New Delhi originally, but would move often for his job as he promoted through the ranks of the National Institute of Health. At the same time, Vimal did not want to give up her career and getting a transfer was proving very difficult so she was dividing her time between Dharamsala where her job was and whatever outpost Manjit found himself in with each promotion. In May 1966, she gave birth to her only daughter, Rachna, and in 1968 her husband would make a momentous decision that would forever change their lives. He had accepted a fellowship to obtain another graduate degree in the United States. It struck many as an odd decision as he was already settled into a promising career, with a wife and small child. The typical student coming from India to America was a decade younger, but he was a dreamer and he left India for what was supposed to be a two-year stint. Vimal stayed behind living in the family home with her mother and young daughter, continuing her career as a teacher. Those two years would turn into four before she saw her husband again. In January 1972, UC Davis made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. The University would sponsor his wife and daughter if he would continue his promising research on poultry diseases. Vimal left New Delhi on a cold foggy night with her five-year-old daughter, Rachna, and set off to this foreign land to be reunited with her beloved husband.
In Davis, Vimal would transform their small, spartan, apartment into a cozy respite. A welcoming home that hosted numerous dinner parties for the many international students who had no family in the U.S. Without a driver’s license she had to figure out a way to get around… So she bought a pastel blue bike with a flower basket, and would ride everywhere-to the grocery store, to Rachna’s school to volunteer, to various jobs that she procured. She was fearless and eager to explore this new land. And while others may have scoffed at doing jobs below their educational and social status, she loved the fact that in the United States there was a respect for work and a dignity of labor. Watching her acclimate and thrive in this new country was always a great source of pride and comfort for her young daughter who saw in her mother the type of woman she would strive to be.
Unfortunately, their time in Davis was short-lived and the grant funded position that paid Manjit’s meager salary was ending. In 1973, he took a job with the Federal Government as a Veterinarian. It was night and day from what he had been doing as a researcher at a venerable institution but he had a family to think about and needed more security than grant funded research could provide. Eventually they settled in Livingston, CA in 1974, and once again she showed herself to be the most able of partners and through hard work, diligence and sheer determination she would propel the family and its finances forward. Becoming the proprietor of a 24-hour diner, the Rocket Café , she made it into a stunning success even though she had no background as a restauranteur or entrepreneur. While running all aspects of the restaurant she would take care of the home, be an involved and present parent to her daughter, and help her husband build up multiple commercial properties. Her unwavering support of his dreams and her hard work is what allowed them to achieve as much as they did. In the midst her incredibly hectic life, she gave birth to her 2nd child, a son named Michael. Her love for her children was at the center of her being and she managed to run an extremely demanding household, ensuring there were home cooked meals daily for her family.
But the routine of life would be upended in 1993 when eminent domain would take all their commercial property and the thriving businesses they had managed to build and was offering them $0 for all their property due to a neighboring unrelated business that had caused the ground to become contaminated. Fighting “City Hall” is a fools errand but they had no choice but to take it on and they would ultimately emerge victorious. But the stress of it all would take its toll on their health, causing Manjit to have a heart attack. At 57 and 63 years of age they would take another huge leap of faith by investing all they had into building a restaurant which with seating for over 200, as well as a new Veterinary clinic, Truck Wash and commercial rentals. Their daughter and son-in-law would be an integral part of making the Livingston Hammatt Plaza a success. In 1996, Vimal’s life would be forever brightened with the birth of her first grandchild, Maya. The bond they shared was mystical and it would remain throughout the rest of Vimal’s life. In 1998 that sense of joy would be multiplied by the birth of a grandson, Christian, who also loved and cared for her in the most gentle of ways. Her love for these two extended beyond words. Amidst life’s hustle, she always found the time to prioritize this new role of “Nani” turning even the simplest moments into cherished memories.
Vimal had that rare ability to make people feel treasured and cared for. She listened completely with her heart and made you feel that you could share anything with her, because she would still love you unconditionally. Her husband used to describe their marriage with these words, “Union of Mind, Communion of Soul, Oneness of Thought, is the Essence of Our Love”, and this described their union perfectly. Her soulmate and life partner, Manjit, passed away in March of 2023 and Vimal never recovered from the loss of her beloved. She is survived by her dearest elder sister, Bhindri Bhagar, loving and devoted daughter, Rachna & son-in-law Marc Condos, son, Michael Nagi, grandchildren Maya and Christian Condos (who brought her so much happiness), her nieces, Anju Kohli, Renu Batra, Mini (Ranjit) Ratra, and nephew Kamal (Kanwal) Walia. She will be remembered for her welcoming smile, gracious demeanor and the most loving heart one can imagine; we will miss her endlessly.
Leave a Condolence