Darshana Bhatt

Life and Journey of Darshana Shirishkumar Bhatt

Darshana Shirishkumar Bhatt was born in the vibrant city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India on January 10, 1954, to Vinodchandra Mehta and Shakuntala Vinodchandar Mehta. She was the second child of four children of Vinod and Shakuntala, raised as a devout Brahmin Hindu.

Darshana attended Diwan Ballubhai Madhmik Patsala school in Ahmedabad and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Gujarat College in 1970. After graduating, she worked in the advertising and printing department of the Gujarat Samachar Newspaper until 1975. According to our parents, it was love at first sight when she met our father, Shirishkumar Bapalal Bhatt, in 1971 at a mutual friend's party. After secretly dating for three years and unsuccessfully trying to gain their families' approval, they eloped on April 4, 1974, and had a Hindu wedding ceremony shortly after.

Darshana was an exceptional mother and homemaker in India, also helping her husband establish his printing press and chemical business. After the tragic loss of her twin sons in 1975, she gave birth to her two daughters, Rujuta Bhatt-Ferron in 1977 and Nidhi Bhatt in 1979. Darshana and Shirish's union lasted 40 years, remaining strong through good times and bad, until his passing on October 2, 2014.

After immigrating to the United States in 1991, Darshana worked at Burlington Coat Factory for 20 years, retiring in 2011. Despite facing many challenges, including language and cultural barriers, she remained a devoted mother and diligent worker. Darshana was an exceptional cook, mastering dishes from various cuisines such as Indian, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican. Although she was vegetarian, she could transform any non-vegetarian recipe into a delicious vegetarian dish. She also enjoyed eating different cuisines.

Skilled in knitting and embroidery, Darshana passed these talents on to her daughters. She was a great motivator and always had valuable advice for those who sought her help. In India, she was involved in numerous social causes and charity work. After moving to the USA, she enjoyed volunteering her time and cooking skills for the Mandir (temple) seva.

Darshana's journey to the afterlife began on July 16, 2024, surrounded by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father Vinodchandra Mehta, her mother Shakuntala Mehta, and her husband Shirishkumar Bhatt. Darshana was brought up in a very close-knit family that gathered at her parents’ house every Saturday and she continued that tradition and devotion to her family in USA. She considered spending with her family to be her favorite part of life, whether it was with her kids, grandkids, her favorite son-in-law whom she regarded as her own son, or his family.

Darshana is survived by daughters Rujuta Bhatt-Ferron and Nidhi Bhatt; son in law, Cleveland Ferron; grandson, Aditya Lynch; and granddaughter, Aahana Ferron.

Darshana will be dearly missed, but her love, legacy, and memory will forever be cherished in the lives of her surviving family and friends.

A viewing and Puja will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 1:00 PM, at LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home & Crematory, located at 441 White Horse Pike, Atco, NJ 08004. Cremation will follow.

To view the livestream of the service, click this link.