Ravinderjit Kaur Dhaliwal Obituary (1956 - 2020)

View Funeral Webcast Our wonderful Ravinderjit (Rani) has passed away. As we remember her legacy, and mourn our loss, we also celebrate the rich life and times of an incredible mother, wife, sister, and friend. Rani was born in Khealy, Punjab, India in 1956. Daughter of Dr. Gurmukh Singh and Daljit Kaur Sekhon. Rani was a proud Punjaban and Utahn who took just as much pride in her heritage and birthplace as she did her adoptive home of Salt Lake. Rani was raised at the hands of her wonderful parents and her mother’s extended family in rural Dhaka, Punjab, India. She was particularly fond of her familial relationships and spoke often of the tremendous impact they had on her childhood and life. After graduating from Punjab University in the early 1980s, she immigrated to the United States in 1983. Upon arriving in Salt Lake City, she joined the workforce taking a job at University of Utah Health. Between working for the University of Utah and helping her older sister and brother-in-law raise their children, Rani found a deep love for the Salt Lake Valley and the community of friends she was quickly building and expanding. In early 1986, Rani married Gurinder Dhaliwal formerly of Chandigarh, Punjab, India. Their love and devotion to one another set an example for those lucky enough to spend time with them. Continuing to settle in the Salt Lake Valley, Rani and Gurinder welcomed their eldest son Jugraj in 1990. He was followed by their second son Navkerat in 1992. Rani surrounded herself with all things kids in the 1990s, all while continuing to play a foundational role in the lives of her older nieces and nephews. As her career at the University of Utah expanded and progressed, Rani also took an active role in her community as a regular volunteer at the Sikh Temple of Utah and with generous commitments of time to the Columbus Community Center helping persons with disabilities. She always found time to warm the spirits of her family and friends with amazing cooking, a good Bollywood movie, and a loud cheer for her Utes. Rani’s proudest moments came watching the achievements of others. Nothing made her prouder than watching her children, nieces, and nephews reach milestones in their lives. Be it a graduation, wedding, job acceptance, game winning shot—she was the brightest at those moments. Her family resided in all corners of her heart. Rani was as sweet as she was determined. Her determination to succeed as an immigrant in a new land served as an indelible example for those she touched. She relished the chance to stick up for the underdog and always took pride in fighting for what she thought was right. She was indeed an underdog when she was diagnosed with stage four gallbladder cancer in June of 2019. Despite the dire diagnosis, Rani dug-in and went to work like she always had. She confronted each treatment and medical procedure with the same tenacity and determination that defined who she was. Rani spent her last year and last days surrounded by family and friends. On July 17th, she passed away surrounded by her loved ones. She is survived by her mother, Daljit Kaur Sekhon; her beloved husband, Gurinder Dhaliwal; her children, Jugraj “Raj” Dhaliwal (Samantha) and Navkerat “Nav” “Keethi” Dhaliwal; her sister, Surinderpal Kaur Gill (Sohan); her brother, Sukhminder Singh Sekhon (Jasbir); her nephews, Mandeep Singh Gill (Angela) and Maninder Sekhon; and her nieces, Sumandeep Kaur Gill (Cade) and Sonia Kaloudis (Nick).