Obituary of Ilabanta MUKHERJEE

November 1, 1936 – Ranaghat, West Bengal, India
June 22, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Ilabanta Mukherjee, beloved husband of Lali Mukherjee (nee Mukherji), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at the age of 84 years.

Ilabanta was born in Ranaghat, West Bengal, India. He and Lali were married in 1961.  After leaving India with his family, his career took him to many countries across the world until he came to Canada in 1981, where he taught at the University of Calgary until his retirement in 2003.   He was a member of Rotary International for over fifty years, volunteering his time and energy to many charitable initiatives.  He received the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his contributions. Ilabanta enjoyed gardening, exercise, music, and poetry. He was an avid hockey fan and almost never missed a Calgary Flames game.  He loved to travel, with many memorable trips to almost every continent.   He was kind, and thoughtful, and he always had time for others, whether they were family, friends, students, or acquaintances.  He will be missed.

Besides his loving wife Lali, Ilabanta is survived by his son Arijit Mukherjee, of Calgary, AB, daughter Anumpa Mukherjee (Robert Turnbull) of Toronto, ON; two grandchildren, Akaash Mukherjee (Ariane Brunelle) of  Montreal, QC, and Kieran Turnbull of Toronto, ON. He is also survived by his niece and her husband, Dipti and Dipten Chakravorty; and by his grandniece Annisha Chakravorty, and his grandnephew Rahul Chakravorty (Rachel Johnson) and their son Amari, all of Calgary, AB.  Ilabanta is also survived by his extended family in India and abroad.

A Private Family Service will be held on Sunday, June 27, 2021. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alzheimer Society of Calgary, 800-7015 MacLeod Trail SW Calgary AB T2H 2K6 (403) 290-0110 Toll-Free: 1-877-569-HELP (4357), https://www.alzheimercalgary.ca/ or to the charity of your choice.

In living memory of Ilabanta Mukherjee, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

Remember
By Christina Rossetti

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.