(January 26, 1937 – June 3, 2026)
IN loving memory of Bibi Jaswinder Kaur Bassan, her first Barsi (Annual Remembrance) was recently observed.
To honour her life and her recognition of her Seva at the Akali Singh Sikh Society Gurdwara, an Akhand Path Sahib was held from May 15 to May 17, 2026. This gathering brought together family, friends and Sangat to share and reflect on her impact on them and the community.
She is survived by her husband, Sardar Piara Singh Bassan and her four children and their spouses, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She marvelled at having witnessed four generations living at the same time.
She also leaves behind her beloved, younger brother with whom she had an unshakeable and rare bond. He had been a source of comfort to the whole family since last April, when she was diagnosed very suddenly with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Sadly, within two months, she passed away on June 3, 2025.
Bibi Jaswinder Kaur was born January 26, 1937, in the village of Sunner Kala. Her own mother had died when Jaswinder Kaur was only seven years old, while her father went to work in Africa. She spent most of her childhood in her mother’s village of Lohara, adored by her Nana Ji’s and her Mama Ji. She remembered this period of her life with much fondness.
From a young age, she helped with the household chores, waking up before sunrise to feed the domestic animals and give breakfast to her grandparents before heading for school. Hard work was ingrained in her from those early days. She was affectionately nicknamed “Tej Kaur” because of her boundless energy.
Her uncle sent her to school despite her father’s refusal and enrolled her at the local Gurdwara to learn to read and interpret the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture. Her introduction to the Sikh faith had begun.
At the age of 18, on Dec 1, 1955, she married Sardar Piara Singh Bassan in the village of Chiheru, India. They had four children and lived comfortably until Sardar Piara Singh had to hastily pack his bags to come to Canada on one day’s notice from immigration.
His aunt (bhua Ji, Bibi Rattan Kaur Thauli) had sponsored him after visiting him in the late 60’s). Her husband, Giani Narajan Singh Thauli was one of the founding members of Akali Singh Gurdwara and a president for 30 years.
A lifetime of Seva at the Akali Singh Sikh Society from the early 1970s, and within a day of arriving in Canada in 1972, Bibi Jaswinder Kaur Bassan became an integral part of the Sangat. Both she and Sardar Piara Singh built a strong, extensive family from the days at the 11th Ave Gurdwara.
A few core families (10 -15) met over the weekends, not only for prayers, but to nurture a sense of community within a shared faith and shared experiences in a new land, which had its own challenges and hardships.
From her time in the Seventies to the early Eighties, she noted the Gurdwara community gave refuge to many who faced discrimination, and a lack of a job or housing. Despite their struggles, many persevered to become successful and upstanding members of the larger Canadian community by the late eighties, especially in policing and politics.
In September of 1974, Bibi Jaswinder Kaur enrolled in “Women in Training”, an English and Canadian cooking class sponsored by the government for new Canadians. This class really sparked her curiosity about life. Her friendships from that class lasted to her final days, a testament to her bond and ease with people.
She later found work as a seamstress at Marjorie Hamilton, a clothing factory. Because she was a quick and keen learner, she was given the job of a Sample Pattern Maker, earning $10 per hour (minimum wage was $2 at the time), today’s worth of approximately sixty to eighty dollars.
In 1993, she left Marjorie to work for Hutch Apparel, another clothing factory. Here, she worked with her friends, whom she knew from the Akali Gurdwara. She had many laughs with her lifelong friends, all sharing their joys and heartaches over the course of their lives. Most of these incredible women have passed.
She was dedicated to her extended family and friends, willing to do anything for them however, her devotion to the Sikh faith gave her purpose and strength of character.
She exemplified one of the core Sikh practices of SEVA (meaning Selfless Service – service to others without expecting any reward or recognition). After a day at work and looking after her family, she not only sewed clothes for her friends but also helped at the Gurdwara. With the help of another lady, she made the very first Chandoa (the hanging canopy from the ceiling), skillfully piecing together the intricate and complicated layers.
She would sew Ramalas and clothing for Ragis, enlisting her daughters as well. Along with sewing numerous white/ blue uniforms for the Akali Gurdwara students for the annual Vaisakhi parade, she taught women how to sew and mend their own clothes. Now that the sewing machine at the Gurdwara sits packed up, gathering dust.
Bibi Jaswinder Kaur has devoted many years reciting The Guru Granth Sahib (Rols) for various programs, initiating the langar with other esteemed women, making roti, dhal and sweets, washing large cooking pots every weekend. This was all done by volunteers in the early days, a simpler time when people willingly helped one another to form friendships and bonds, finding comfort within the Akali Singh Gurdwara.
On one of her trips for a checkup, her daughter commented, “Mom, you know so many people at the Gurdwara”. After a long pause, she said, “(my family is very big)” … indeed. For many, she was like a mother to them, made them feel welcomed, and honoured them by offering a cup of tea or telling them to have some langar. Helping in the kitchen regardless of whose program it was! She showed up, a constant in the kitchen or langar hall.
She provided emotional support to people, especially women who faced their own struggles in life, who trusted Bibi Jaswinder for her ability to listen with care. Some said she was a spiritual soul, talk to her easily, laugh and have a good heart-to-heart, particularly when they’d spend weekends at Akali Singh Gurdwara.
From the time of her diagnosis in Apr 2025 and onward, Bibi Jaswinder Kaur proved to be an independent and stoic woman, carrying on with her life as normal. She loved her homemade saag, gardening, sharing stories of this and that and welcomed her grandchildren with love and humour.
She endured pain without a single tear; however, she cried easily when sharing stories about her deceased friends and relatives. She acknowledged that living while so many had died was becoming a burden, carrying a terrible, lingering ache for them. Ironically and admirably, she showed an inner strength and courage regarding her own fate.
“Through good deeds, honesty and Waheguru’s grace, the soul will eventually leave this earth to be united with the Waheguru” (from the SGGS)
Through all her deeds as demonstrated at the Akali Singh Gurdwara for the last five decades, Bibi Jaswinder Kaur Bassan embodied the true spirit of seva, humility, and community. She enriched the lives of many through her unconditional love, friendship, and acts of service.
She is deeply missed by those who knew her for decades and those who knew her more recently but now feel her absence in their lives.
One could say that her life was no different than many other immigrants during the early years in the seventies. However, what distinguishes her is that she truly and quietly embodied the principle of Seva and her unshakeable faith in God. She was committed to doing her best in practicing the principles of Sikhism, serving, welcoming and helping everyone without prejudice, especially those who walked into the Akali Gurdwara.
She was happy to see you, asked about your family and insisted that you have some langar before leaving. She warmed the langar Hall with her familiar face and a ready smile. Now, her absence is palpable!
She is not in kitchen, not in the langar hall. For some, her spirit remains within the Akali Singh Gurdwara and beyond!
