Santosh Kumari Sharma

Mrs. Santosh Sharma, born Santosh Kumari Jaitly to Shri Kishanchand and Shrimati Jagranidevi Jaitly, was the fourth child and eldest daughter of twelve children. Born in the pre-partition era of India, Mrs. Sharma grew up in Delhi, a place she forever held close to her heart.

Mrs. Sharma completed college at Delhi University, majoring in Sanskrit, and maintained a passion for the language and its applications throughout her life. She emigrated from India in November 1968 to the Washington D.C. area with her husband, Mr. Kedar Nath Sharma, and two sons. Soon after settling in Maryland, the Sharma family welcomed their daughter. Mrs. Sharma’s life was punctuated by many momentous occasions, but her ultimate pride was her family, including her three children, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren.

Mrs. Sharma’s leadership and family roles spanned continents. She was the eldest daughter in-law of the Sharma/Mohley family, which includes nine siblings and scores of family members in Delhi, Bhopal, and Agra, where she was deeply loved and relied upon for comfort and guidance.

In addition to establishing the family in the United States, Mrs. Sharma was an original, core member for Mangal Mandir. She was also a regular participant in the Gaithersburg-Rockville havan group, and subsequently founded the Bowie Vedic Havan Sabha upon her retirement. Her career spanned four decades, working at notable organizations including Columbia Pictures, 20^th Century Fox, and World Bank Group.

Mrs. Sharma was known for her tenacity, resilience, and confidence. Her strong-willed personality and fierce loyalty was magnetic and a comfort to all.

Mrs. Sharma is survived by her husband Mr. Kedar Nath Sharma, sons Mr. Rajeev & Sangeeta Sharma and Mr. Sanjeev & Dipty Sharma, and daughter Ms. Rashmi Sharma. She was a loving “Dadda” to five grandchildren: Anjalee, Anuva, Aroon, Anuraag, and Avnee Sharma.

Funeral services are closed to the public. Please join us for the Termi (Celebration of Life) on February 20, 2022, at 12pm at the Hindu Temple of Metropolitan Washington.

We ask in lieu of flowers to please make donations to the American Heart Association in Mrs. Santosh Sharma’s name