Purnima Purkayastha "Lekha" Banerji

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Purnima Purkayastha "Lekha", on June 28, 2021, age 94, of Haddon Twp., NJ.

Cherished mother of Nita Spielberg (Joshua) and Sheila Banerji (Michael Ogawa); beloved Didibhai (grandmother) of Lela Spielberg Kanter (Adam), Ben Spielberg (Kate Frelinger), Hannah Spielberg, Karina Ogawa, and Brian Ogawa; and loving great-grandma (Boroma) of Max Kanter. Adored wife of Ranan Banerji (deceased 2016). One of seven children, she is also survived by sisters Purabi (Ruby) Pal of Toronto Canada and Pranati Sarkar of Delhi India.

Born in Kolkata India, she was one of a few Indian women of her generation to study in STEM fields, earning her BSc and BEd at Calcutta U., and beginning her MEd at Edinburgh U. in Scotland before coming to the US in 1954 to complete it at Penn State U. She later earned her DEd at Temple U. in 1988. She was a teacher in the Philadelphia school system for many years, primarily at Lincoln High where she taught math to gifted students and pioneered a program in robotics. She loved teaching and her students loved her. Following retirement she was a substitute teacher at Haddon Twp. High and Moorestown Friends School and taught classes at St Joseph’s U. Smart, modest, friendly, generous, and funny, she was also a great cook and published the cookbook Recipes from Bengal .

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Visitation with the family on Sunday, Aug. 8 ^th from 9:30 – 11am at Jackson Funeral Home, 308 Haddon Ave., Haddon Township, NJ 08108, where her Memorial Service will follow at 11 am. (Family requests everyone to please wear a mask, regardless of vaccine status, with appreciation of your understanding.)

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lekha's memory may be made to the Philadelphia Student Union, 501 S 52 ^nd St. Philadelphia PA 19143 or phillystudentunion.com.

Arrangements by Jackson Funeral Home, Haddon Township, NJ www.jacksonfh.net