As he was throughout his life, Dasondha Singh Grewal was surrounded by family when he passed away on Labour Day, September 3, 2018.
Born in Bilaspur, near Hoshiarpur, in Punjab, India, he began life on the farm where he formed his strong values of family, work and service to others. He served as the village's Lambardar and married Parkash Kaur Grewal from Moranwali. In 1965 they moved to Canada to assist her aging father.
The early years of Dasondha's Canadian life are characterized by hard physical labour; he was in high demand by lumber mills, always eager to work extra shifts. He was a proud, longstanding member of the IWA and served as shop steward. He worked after hours and through weekends on farms to support the dozens of family members that immigrated to Canada; each lived with his growing family when they first arrived in the country.
He was an active member of Duncan's Gurdwara Sahib community, serving on the Gurdwara Committee and as the kitchen's unofficial taste advisor.
After raising his family and living in Duncan for 42 years, he moved to Surrey to help raise his grandchildren, rocking them to sleep, teaching them how to garden, encouraging them in school and providing driving tips.
He was proud of his homeland, farming heritage, and his Canadian citizenship. He always had a story and a joke to keep people entertained.
He is greatly missed by his wife of 64 years, Parkash Kaur Grewal, and his children: Iqbal Grewal, Aman Grewal, Kiran Grewal (son-in-law John Kageorge, grandchildren Jasmine, Rajan and Jaia), and Barinder Grewal (daughter-in-law Pinder Grewal, grandchildren Anoop and Nihal). He is fondly remembered by his many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Services to commemorate Dasondha's life will occur in Surrey on Sunday, Sept 9, 2 pm at Valley View Funeral Home, and at 4 pm at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation will be appreciated.