Kirpal Kaur

Kirpal Kaur, 92, of Crystal Lake, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026. She was born on October 5, 1934, in Burma, British India, to Bakhshish Singh Sandhu and Satwant Kaur Atwal. She was the youngest of four daughters.

Kirpal was a remarkable woman who was ahead of her time. A strong believer in the importance of education, especially for women in India, she pursued higher learning when opportunities for women were limited, eventually earning two master's degrees, one in political science and the other in Hindi. She went on to build a long and successful career as a principal, even earning the State Award, the highest distinction in education in Punjab. She loved writing and in her 80s she published three books. Her dedication to learning and her determination to open doors for women left a lasting impact on everyone around her.

Kirpal was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jagdev Singh, and her son, Gurpreet.

She is survived by her son, Navpreet (Harinder) ; her grandchildren, Diljot and Simmer (Setu); and many nieces and nephews who all loved her dearly.

Prayers and ceremony will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake.