Shifali Dhingra

met Shifali the day she landed in US.    I remember the day Subra picked her up from the airport, hosted her in his apartment in Notre Dame. I still remember her in this beautiful 'perfectly fitted pink salwar' and I'd think she looked like a 'rose'.  I have seen them falling in love, getting married, having beautiful girls.    I visited Subra once and she was out of town and  told Subra to take good care of me and treat me well as I was their guest and she even instructed him what to make for dinner...  She has a very big heart.. I feel like it was all just yesterday and hard to believe that she's no longer physically around..

I'm so glad that i could visit them last year and we took a long walk along the beach and I wished I could make her pain go away.  She 'd say that she'd rather live with cancer itself than taking all the medications suffering from severe side effects.  Big learning for me as I'm working in cancer research is  the least i can do is to discover quality drugs with not much off target effects. 

i wish the family the great strength to face and bear the sadness and emptiness that their loved one left behind..

I am truly grateful that I had the pleasure of working with Shifali.  Our similarities and differences caused us to work well together almost instantly and she was more than my manager, but also my friend.  We had moments when I felt like she was my wise, big sister that I could count on for guidance and other moments in which I felt she was my fragile, little sister that I had to check on and make sure she was feeling okay or needed anything.

I will always remember your wise, warm eyes and smile.  And though I will miss you dearly I am also happy that you are no longer pain.

May you rest in peace.

My heart broke into pieces when I heard of Shifali's demise. I was convinced that she was going to survive it with her invincible spirit and strength, but guess sometimes fate has its cruel way of beating us! My heart goes out to Subra, Shruti, and Richa for the big void she has left. 

I remember Shifali as my great friend (who'd always remember to call and keep in touch), very vivacious, straightforward, friendly, outspoken with a warm heart, and having an unbelievably positive attitude to life. It haunts me always how in one of our conversations she said (after she was diagnosed the first time), "living with cancer is like dying millionth time every day" and the next sentence was about what she was going to do over the weekend with her girls!! And I was amazed by her positive energy. My husband visited them in San Diego and he said how despite the pain and side effects of the medicine, she made the house and the atmosphere so normal and so warm!!

I will always cherish my time spent with her in South Bend, our memorable trip to Denver, and her w/ family trip to New Jersey to see us! Can't believe it is all a story now and she is no longer physically present among us! I can still hear her crystal clear voice in my mind -- you will forever live in my heart, Shifali - my dear friend! Miss you terribly..... 

"It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, and a day to love them but it takes an entire lifetime to forget them"  ~ anonymous

My husband Jim has worked with Subra for more than four years. I met Shifali at a company Christmas party several years ago and was immediately struck by how warm and friendly she was. As we talked, she mentioned her health issues but at the time it seemed she would be fine. We are so sad she has lost her battle, but glad she is no longer suffering. She will be missed. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family.

I first met Shifali when she and Subra moved to Colorado.  Shifali worked in the same office space as me.  We started our relationship as friends, sharing experiences about being wives and mothers.  Shifali was extremely gifted at her job, but being a wife and mother were her highest priorities.

I will always be grateful for the second chance Shifali gave me to return to Emerson.  She showed so much confidence in me and was so encouraging as my boss.  At the same time, we continued to be friends who shared family stories with each other.  Shifali always had kind things to say about those she worked with and about those who worked for her.  She was an example of humility and generosity.

Shifali fought the good fight.  She continued to struggle in the hope and promise of another day with her daughters, Shruti and Richa.  I am thankful that her physical pain and suffering has ended.  But, my heart aches that she will not be physically present during her daughters' life journeys.  I pray that Shruti and Richa will find the joy in their lives that they gave in abundance to their mother's life.

I will celebrate Shifali's life and am thankful to have called her my friend.