Maniben A. Patel

COLUMBIA — Maniben A. Patel of Columbia died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, at her son's home. She was 97.

She was born Aug. 13, 1913, in Burhanpur, India, to Nandkaur and Lalchand Patel. She was married to Amrit L. Patel, who died earlier.

Mrs. Patel's son, Nitin Patel, said his mother was hard-working, loved to cook and had a memory that was as sharp as a tack.

"She never forgets a birthday," Nitin Patel said. "And there are a lot of them for her to remember."

Mrs. Patel is survived by her son, three daughters, twelve grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Patel's son said she was always loving and, whenever she could, lent a helping hand to other people in the community.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Parker Funeral Service and Crematory, 22 N. 10th St.

-- Caitlyn Crawford