Mandakini Tilak, born in Pune, India on January 27^th, 1927, passed away peacefully in Toronto, Canada on April 19^th, 2020.

Known as Aai to her children and Aaji to her grandchildren, she is survived by her four children—Pratibha, Hemant, Shekhar and Shashank; her ten grand-children—Zena, Girish, Nisha, Shahnoor, Sushil, Alshana, Justin, Jaclyn, Manisha and Rakhi; and her five great grandchildren—Shane, Maya, Isabella, Madeline and Henry.

Aaji spent her childhood in Vile Parle, Mumbai.  It was here where she later met and married Keshav Tilak in 1947 and worked in the Income Tax office to help support the household.  They had four children, and in 1952 the family moved to Mombasa, Kenya where she taught at a local school while raising her children.  She described this period of time as the happiest in her life.

By 1967, the whole family had moved to Toronto.  She worked until her retirement in 1992 for OHIP Canada.  With Bhau, she was an active member of the Marathi Mandal in Toronto and volunteered for Canadian Blood Services.  In addition to all of this, she spent as much time as she could with all her family and friends!

Aaji will be remembered lovingly and sorely missed by all of her family and friends.  She was a generous and loving mother and grandmother to all.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to consider a donation to a charity.  Charitable work that benefits families and improves the lives of children would be particularly meaningful for her, especially in the places where she lived her life.

India - The Lokmanya Seva Sangh Tilak Mandir is one of the oldest and active social organisations in Mumbai. Amongst the many activities, it includes a gym and playground for children. https://lokmanya-seva-sangh-tilak-mandir.business.site/

Africa – The Amara charitable trust believes in educating, empowering and enhancing education in Kenya to all children, with a focus of supporting schools for children in rural Kenya. https://amaratrust.org/

Canada – Aaji made annual donations to the Scott Mission, ensuring that those in need are fed. The mission’s childcare centre focuses on a holistic, family-centered approach to childcare. https://www.scottmission.com/

A private funeral service for Aaji will take place on Tuesday, April 21^st, 2020 at 8:00 a.m.; the cremation will take place at 9:00 a.m.  The family would like to request that at this time, to please take a small moment to remember her.  Om Shanti Sadgatirbhuyaat.  May her soul rest in peace.

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूय: |
अजो नित्य: शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे || 20||

na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre

The soul is neither born nor does it ever die.  Nor having once existed does it ever cease to be. The soul is without birth, eternal, immortal, and ageless. It remains when the body passes.

Bhagavad Gita, 2.20