Mohinder Pal Singh Obituary (1935 - 2022)

The Singh Family is heartbroken to announce the passing of their Beloved, Mohinder Pal Singh. ~~~~ Mohinder Pal Singh, of Freehold, New Jersey, formerly of Springfield, New Jersey, and originally of New Delhi, India, passed away on February 17, 2022. Mohinder Pal was a wonderful son, supportive brother and uncle, devoted husband, loving father, and doting grandfather whose joy came from the simplest and most important things in life - his family and friends. He loved his family, who called him "Sabi," "Mithoo," "Pop," and "Nanu," more than anything, and he treated his friends like family. He never met a stranger, they were just friends he had not yet charmed. The big "Teddy Bear" of his family, Mohinder Pal's bright spirit would uplift everyone, and his big heart made him an exceptionally sensitive man who felt things deeply and loved unconditionally. Whenever he entered a room, he filled it with love, laughter, and life. And if there was a party going on, no one could keep up with his dance moves, whether it was bhangra or the twist. He loved to listen to Daler Mehndi as well as old Hindi and Punjabi songs. Even on his last day, he was singing his favorite song "Dil Se Milake Dil Pyar Kijiye" (which means love heart to heart). A great cook, Mohinder Pal loved good spicy Punjabi food and often dared his daughters' friends to try a little hot pepper telling them that it would make their hair curly. His dessert of choice was butter pecan ice cream and he always did his prayers before every meal. Red was his favorite color and his first car was a red Dodge Dart. A dapper dresser, his vibrantly colored turbans were no match for his larger than life personality, jovial demeanor, and huge smile. He was always quick to a smile and even quicker to a joke, with a great sense of humor, mischievous twinkle in his eye and a contagious laugh. Even without saying a word, he could send us into fits of laughter, with just a raise of his eyebrow and a twirl of his mustache. With his engineering background, he often enjoyed tinkering and improving things with "innovative" fixes like an Indian MacGyver. He viewed the world with awe and wonder finding joy, amazement, and opportunity in everything. He loved to take long evening strolls around his Springfield, New Jersey neighborhood, stopping to chat with everyone he saw. He was also a daring young man with a bold sense of adventure, from motorbike rides through old Delhi, to owning and running a roller-skating rink in his twenties, to coming to the United States on his own overcoming limited resources and language and cultural barriers to achieve the American dream. Born in 1935 to Man Singh and Chanan Kaur, Mohinder Pal grew up with 10 brothers and sisters in Paharganj, New Delhi. While studying electrical engineering at the Indian Engineering Institute in New Delhi, he worked at the American Embassy supervising the building's air systems. To fulfill his dream of coming to America, he obtained a student visa for further studies at the Milwaukee Institute of Technology in Wisconsin. With only the small amount of money that his mother gave him for his journey, he came to America by ship. To meet his expenses, he worked as a wine steward at the Hilton Inn hotel in Milwaukee dressed in maharajah outfits to impress the customers as he helped them make their wine selections. Though he did not know much about wines, he used the "eeny meeny miny moe" method to his customers' satisfaction. To earn extra money, he also did some modeling for an international ad campaign. After receiving his degree, he worked as a mechanical engineer first in New York City and then in Springfield, New Jersey, designing air and ventilation systems for large buildings like Overlook Hospital, Bell Office Buildings, airline terminals at Newark International Airport, Albany High School, JC Penney's and others. Throughout his career, he continued to enhance his expertise attaining certifications in engineering design and mechanical contracting from Newark College of Engineering and Kean College. Along with his engineering career, Mohinder Pal pursued other professional interests such as real estate and business ownership. In 1968, Mohinder Pal returned to India to find his soulmate. He was introduced to Daljit Walia and at their second meeting, he impressed her with his charming personality and sense of humor as well as a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses from America which Daljit still wears. After knowing each other for only two months, they were married on March 24, 1968. Putting her trust and love in Mohinder, Daljit accompanied him to America to start their new life together. He lovingly nicknamed her "Rani" which means Queen and he treated her as such, making her chai every morning and evening. He very patiently taught her how to drive a car so that she could be independent and go shopping on her own. They lived in Springfield for over 50 years where they raised their two daughters. It was very important to Mohinder Pal that his daughters got the best education so that they could stand on their own. His favorite piece of advice for them was "Knock it down!" and he was very proud of his daughters. Devout Sikhs, Mohinder Pal and Daljit attended the Bridgewater gurudwara every Sunday, especially enjoying the camaraderie, conversation and langar (which is the communal meal served at the temple). Throughout the years, as Mohinder Pal missed his family, he endeavored to sponsor many of them to immigrate to the United States and with his help, many of them followed his path. He kept in close touch with family near and far, and with every new year, there was a new calendar that he would meticulously fill in with the birthdays, wedding anniversaries and important dates of family members. He would never forget to call them on their special day. He also delighted in the successes of his family and friends and would boast about their accomplishments to everyone he talked to. He welcomed his Irish sons-in-law with love and open arms and his greatest pride was becoming a grandfather, Nana papa. He would revel in the presence of his four beautiful grandchildren and spoiled them to no end. He will be deeply missed by all his family and friends, especially his wife of almost 54 years Daljit M.P. Singh, his daughter, Gurpreet M. Singh and son-in-law, Mark Farrell, his daughter Gurneet M. Singh and son-in-law, Chris McHugh, and his amazing grandchildren, Luke and Danika Singh Farrell and Siobhan and Deaglan Singh McHugh, who lovingly called him "Nanu." He loved them all and they loved him "from the ground to the sky." In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association - Greater New Jersey Chapter. PRIVATE SERVICES Funeral Prayers, Kirtan, Viewing & Last Rites Wednesday, February 23, 2022 1:30 to 3:00 pm, (EST USA) Ruby Memorial Funeral Home North Brunswick, NJ 08902 **Cremation will be PRIVATELY Held immediately after at: Franklin Memorial Park Crematory North Brunswick, NJ Virtual Attendance LIVE STREAM will be made available 1:30 pm at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClW0vSTFex88Ib3X-NauqbQ Bhog and Antim Ardaas: To Be Announced. Arrangements are under the respectful care and direction of Funeral Director: Christine Cuoco of Ruby Memorial. Family & Friends may offer prayers and condolences at: www.rubymemorialhome.com