EastEnders Suki Panesar actress Balvinder Sopal shares emotional message after death of mum known for her ‘warm huge smile’
Her mum helped make shirts for the Royals and Daniel Criag and Balvinder said she was 'proud to be her daughter'
Balvinder Sopal – who plays Suki Panesar in EastEnders – has shared the tragic news that her mother passed away late on Wednesday evening (March 27). She announced the news earlier today via a heartfelt, and moving Instagram post.
The message was uploaded at around 5.15pm, and has already amassed almost 2,000 likes. Balvinder began by writing: “27th February 2024, 11.30pm, mum passed peacefully, with dignity & grace, just as she’d lived her whole life. My sister & I had settled in for the night shift at the hospital.
“The lads had come, spent the day, & just as the last of them left… mum passed, with me & my sister holding her hands. We walked mum as far as we could. It’s been hard, but I’ve never known strength like mums. I’m proud to be her daughter.”
In the post, Balvinder said: “27th February 2024, 11.30pm, mum passed peacefully, with dignity & grace, just as she’d lived her whole life. My sister & I had settled in for the night shift at the hospital. The lads had come, spent the day, & just as the last of them left… mum passed, with me & my sister holding her hands. We walked mum as far as we could. It’s been hard, but I’ve never known strength like mums.
“I’m proud to be her daughter.As we told people, the one thing constant in people’s memory was Mums huge warm smile, her ability to adapt to change & show love & respect to all. Our home was always open; a shelter from the rain whilst waiting for the bus.
“For pronthey & chaa. For all the children to come & chill after school. There was always food. Our home was busy, warm, & full of love because of mum.Mum would come to live out her dream; she wanted to marry a man who lived abroad.
“Dad had moved to England in 1974. He’d enquired about mum 9 years previous. When I asked mum if she’d waited for dad, she replied, “No, but I had always hoped he hadn’t married anyone else.” Some things are just meant to be.
“Mum had two degrees; BA & MA in Fine Arts. However, she worked from home, doing peicework on a brother machine that still sits by the back window, whilst raising a family of 4. Later, she learned to drive so she could usher us to & from school/work/mates houses.
“Once we’d all grown up, mum decided she’d put her impeccable sewing skills to use by working for Rayner & Sturgess; a bespoke shirt factory, one of its kind. They made shirts for Ray Winston, some of the Royals, & Daniel Craig. The workforce, all women would still only be paid a minimum wage. But it gave mum deep friendships & confidence to be her own woman.
“A confidence she passed on to us.A fierce supporter of all of her kids & grandkids mums unique ability to get through to us was second to none. She was our rock, friend, confidant, guiding light. She was my No. 1 fan travelling up & down the country, with dad watching shows. Mum was an extraordinary teacher of life just by being & doing everything with love.”
