Roopa Gulati

Roopa Gulati, age 73, of Carbondale, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

Born on March 28, 1952, in Jalandhar, Punjab, India, to Dr. Gulshan Rai and Santosh Dewan, Roopa was the eldest of three children. Her childhood was painted with the scenic beauty of Shimla, where the “rustling pine trees, the aroma of spring blossoms, and the distant snow-capped mountains glistening in June” etched visions into her memory that she would cherish forever. She was a graduate of Auckland House School and St. Bede’s College in Shimla, later earning her Master’s in English Literature from Himachal University and a diploma in French from Alliance Française in Delhi.

On November 3, 1978, Roopa married the love of her life, Dr. Rajinder Gulati, in Chandigarh, India. She described him as her “inspiration and religion,” a man whose kindness and dedication she admired deeply. Together, they built a life spanning continents, moving to the United States in 1979 and settling in Carbondale in 1980.

Roopa’s greatest joy arrived on May 30, 1984, with the birth of her son, Shivan. She wrote of that day, “The moment that took my breath away... Your success, my biggest joy; your achievements, my pride; your happiness, my only goal.” Shivan remained the center of her universe. As she put it, “My son and husband are my life. Husband spoils me and makes me soar, son keeps me grounded.”

A woman of elegance and meticulous detail, Roopa was a “homebody at heart” who poured her soul into creating a sanctuary for her family. This passion culminated in the creation of their dream home at 136 Stone Lake Drive - a place built with “love, planning, and sweat” where she hosted countless gatherings. From elaborate Diwali celebrations and Christmas progressive dinners to intimate Bunco nights, Roopa was the ultimate hostess. She didn’t just like to eat; she liked to dine, cherishing the experience of food, ambiance, and company.

Despite her love for home, Roopa possessed an adventurous spirit. She documented her life and travels with the precision of a historian, leaving behind rich journals of trips that spanned the globe - from the glaciers of Antarctica and the safaris of Africa to the temples of Southeast Asia and the streets of Europe. She believed that “the farther you go, the more you know that you don't know.”

Roopa was a woman of deep faith and philosophy. She greeted every day with the Hanuman Chalisa and found spiritual grounding not just in rituals, but in the practice of kindness. She lived by the mantra of forgiveness, fond of the quote: “Forgiveness is the fragrance of the petals being crushed within your palms.”

She is survived by her loving husband, Rajinder Gulati; her devoted son, Shivan Gulati; her sister, Rekha Chadha (Deepak); her brother, Bikram Dewan (Aruna); her niece, Trasha Dewan; her nephews, Aakash (Chandni) and Ankush (Sapna) Chadha; and a wide circle of family and friends who will miss her warmth, her style, and her “fabulousness.” She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Gulshan and Santosh Dewan.

A Memorial Service for Roopa will be held at 12:00pm on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale with a light lunch to be served following the service. A time of visitation for family and friends to gather will be on Saturday, starting at 11:00am at the funeral home.

A live stream of the service will be available for those unable to attend in person. Please contact Shivan or Raj directly for the link.

Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale assisted the family with arrangements. To leave a story or memory of Roopa visit www.meredithfh.com