Skip to content

April 22, 1936 - April 25, 2008

Charno was born at King’s Daughter Hospital in Duncan, B.C., and was the second of seven siblings to parents Jaswant Singh and Sham Kaur Berar of the village Akhara, District Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

Both parents who resided in Lake Cowichan from 1942 to 1986 predecease her. Charno is also predeceased by her loving husband of 25 years, Hakim Singh Gill (1982). The home at 250 South Shore Road is still owned by the family.

Charno spent her formative years and received her education from Lake Cowichan Senior Secondary School and began her diverse career at the Co-Op store in Lake Cowichan where she worked from 1954 to 1957. Customers who shopped at the Co-Op will recall Charno’s warmth and support during their visits. Her greatest mentors at the CO-OP were Lil Godfrey and Archie Greenwell.

On October 13, 1957 Charno married Hakim S. Gill and went on to help form Gill’s furniture in Vancouver, followed by success in real estate until retirement and has lived in Burnaby for the past 50 years.

Charno leaves behind her devoted children Gurmeet (Ron Sengara), Cindy, Surinder (Nick Mahal) and Raj, along with four adoring grandchildren Michael, Stephanie, Tage and Jacob. She also leaves behind brothers Abtar (Minder), Sodi (Lynda), Vic (Joan) and sisters Curly, Susie and Tarry Sandhu, Sharon and David Niles. In addition to many nieces and nephews, she also leaves behind her sister-in-law Nasib-Kaur Sidhu.

Charno was cherished and a much loved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. We all feel truly blessed and honoured to have had her in our midst for 72 precious years. She will continue to be our role model and we will cherish all the happy memories as we reminisce about treasured times we spent with Charno. The extended family and community at large has lost a unique humanitarian. Charno epitomized what it means to be a good human being.



Secondary Title

Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.