Satwinder Sidhu

Satwinder “Goody” K. Sidhu was born in Tapa, Punjab, India, on September 20, 1944, to Bhagwan S. Matharu and Gurdial K. Matharu. The following year, the three moved to Karol Bagh, Delhi, India, where Satwinder spent her childhood. The eldest sibling, Satwinder helped raise her brothers and sisters, Darshan, Jaswinder, Jasbir, and Jaswant. Satwinder attended Khalsa School and earned her bachelor’s degree from Khalsa College. She took a particular interest in history and mathematics.

In 1964, Satwinder married Dr. Jaswinder S. Sidhu, and they had their first child, Patwinder, in Chandigarh, India. The family navigated a new world, living in Montreal, New York, Richmond, and Upper Marlboro before settling in Potomac. In 1978, Satwinder’s second son, Dawinder, was born in Maryland.

Together, Dr. and Mrs. Sidhu formed a perfect union based on practical and spiritual values, including hard work, living truthfully, and serving all. As with her husband, Satwinder helped build institutions and community. She was a founding member of a women’s prayer group at the Guru Nanak Foundation of America (GNFA); she coordinated several social, spiritual, and singing groups; and after the death of her husband she established a support group for widows.

Satwinder lived a life of pure selflessness. She gave every piece of her soul to help others, sacrificing for her family, friends, and strangers. In countless ways, she uplifted and assisted others, including by driving the elderly to GNFA, caring for other children as her own, and cooking for sick friends. Her compassion and kindness was matched only by her humility and happiness in being in a position to serve others. If anyone was an example of God and His virtues, it was Satwinder. For her family and others, she was a moral compass, guiding star, and constant source of wisdom, strength, and comfort.

Satwinder passed away peacefully in her home on October 6, 2024.

Following a private funeral at the Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., prayer services were held at GNFA. The family respectfully requests privacy and asks well-wishers to visit GNFA or a spiritual center of their choice.

She is survived by her two sons and her grandchildren, Justin and Sasha. Satwinder sponsored three of her siblings for citizenship. Her family, their roots, and her example of a virtuous, selfless life will be her enduring and eternal legacy.