“We used to call her Laddoo Shobha. When I was new at the temple we had to make Laddoos for an event. At that time my wife and a few other ladies were asked by Shobha to help her make the Laddoos. The women had no idea how to make it. Shobha just pulled them together and said - it is easy ! I will show you. Ever since then we call her Laddoo Shobha. She was such an amazing person caring about each and every person” said the Priest Krishna Bhattar. I have seen Priests at many Wakes but this one for Shobha Shastry was indeed unique as each individual including the Priests had a special story to tell about the kindness that Shobha had shown to them. ISW has a special site to celebrate her https://iswonline.org/event-4761990.

That she was larger than life was amply clear. My own first interaction with her was at ISW where she would put up the decor for Diwali and other programs that I danced at. I remember being blown away that the elaborate decors. She had a vision and easily built things out of different materials. That passion for decor was later translated into Alankar Decors. It was her work at the temple and non-profits that initiated her interest in decors. Through her entire life she was wholly committed to supporting non-profits always giving all decor items for free. Her incredible generosity was truly unmatched. 

Weddings for her was not a business but a commitment to make the couple truly happy. Always brutally honest, she made no bones about starting out by telling couples that decor is not necessary and a simple wedding is just fine. However once she committed, she would spend night and day to ensure that the wedding is indeed done well. 

Life was not always kind to her. She lost her husband when she was very young and her daughter was just 15. However she never let her troubles define her. Always she was concerned about the other’s person’s issues and was always ready to help. She would work incredibly hard to make other’s happy. She was always smiling and kind .New England will certainly miss this great lady. She was a grand lady who had gained a seat in thousands of hearts. May she get Sadgathi.

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