Shadhika

Dear Friends,

We wanted to share this obituary of Juthica with you.

Juthica Behura Stangl, beloved wife, mother, and humanitarian, passed away on December 11, 2024, at the age of 90, following a brief illness. She died peacefully at Stanford Hospital with her husband, Peter, and daughter, Indrani, by her side, while her son, Anondo, joined them by phone. The family is deeply shocked by her sudden passing, as her death was unexpected.

Juthica was born in Kolkata, India, in 1934. In 1960, she moved to Canada to pursue graduate studies in psychiatric social work at the University of Toronto. After earning her degree, she worked at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she began her professional career. In 1964, she married Peter Stangl, and the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in May of this year with close friends and family.

In 1971, Peter received an offer to work at Stanford University, prompting the couple to move to California with their two young children. Juthica continued her career in psychotherapy, working with the Family Service Agency in Palo Alto. However, her passion for cooking led her to shift careers, and she became the chef at American Studies House at Stanford for six years. She later founded “Juthica’s International Gourmet Catering,” where she shared her culinary talents with the community for several years.

While Juthica’s diverse interests shaped her life, her most enduring legacy is the Shadhika Foundation, a nonprofit she founded in 1992 with the mission to rehabilitate women released from the “Non-criminal Lunatic Wing” of Kolkata’s prison system. Over the years, the Foundation evolved to focus on girls’ education and the prevention of child marriage in India. The organization has since helped hundreds of young girls stay in school, empowering them to graduate and, in many cases, become leaders who inspire other girls to pursue education and delay marriage. Through her unwavering dedication, Juthica made a profound impact on the lives of many girls and women, offering them hope and the promise of a better future.

Juthica is survived by her devoted husband, Peter, her daughter, Indrani, and her son, Anondo. Her loss is deeply felt by her family, her friends, and the countless individuals whose lives were touched by her compassion and advocacy. A celebration of her life will be held at Channing House at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Juthica’s memory be made to the Shadhika Foundation (www.shadhika.org) 1031 33rd St., Suite 172, Denver, CO 8020

Juthica’s warmth, intelligence, and boundless generosity will be missed by all who knew her. Her legacy of kindness, leadership, and commitment to improving the lives of others will continue to inspire for generations to come. We will hold a Celebration of Life on February 15, 2025. Details will be forthcoming.

Peter, Indrani & Anondo