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    Celebrating the life of

    Avani Khanna

    29 Aug 1971 - 17 Mar 2021

    Family and friends

    Avani was a special soul who cared deeply about the world and all living beings. She was taken from this world far before her time, but made every moment last that she had. She was a lover of music, dance, art, deep writing, thoughtful conversations and of life itself. She was a loving daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, friend and gift to the world.

    Join Memories to request access to contribute your cherished photos, videos, and stories to Avani 's memorial with others who loved them.

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    29 Aug 1971

    Gauri Khanna

    29 Aug 1971

    Gauri Khanna

    1976Berkeley, CA, United States

    Gauri Khanna

    Ram K. So divine.
    1977

    Gauri Khanna

    Neil I. Can we haves giant photos sharing session? These are amazing.
    1977Berkeley, CA, United States

    Gauri Khanna

    1978

    Gauri Khanna Avani at Trisha’s 1st Birthday

    1978

    Gauri Khanna

    1979

    Gauri Khanna Avani and Trisha

    1979

    Gauri Khanna

    1982

    Gauri Khanna

    1982

    Gauri Khanna Avani and Paul

    1982

    Gauri Khanna

    1983Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Liza Hall We met in fall 1983 at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor, one room over from the weird green carpeted space in the photo. She'd seen the photos of Boy George I had taped inside my locker, and she walked up and asked, excitedly, "Do you like Culture Club?!" We started talking about our then-favorite band and hit it off immediately. I wish I had photos of her and/or us then, but I didn't have a camera.

    1984

    Chavi K

    1984

    Chavi K

    1984

    Chavi K Avani's 13th birthday w/ Chavi

    1985

    Chavi K

    1986

    Gauri Khanna

    Liza H. I think that braid was inspired by Boy George. We loved Boy George :)
    Neil I. Wow
    Jul 1989Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Liza Hall Avani at 17 (the month before she turned 18) in my driveway in Ann Arbor.

    31 Mar 1990Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    John Briere Avani used to take me different places in Ann Arbor, although we both grew up there she knew magical places I had never seen

    I met Avani at Hampshire College in a seminar on Futurism and Fascism by Mary Russo. This was Fall 1993 or Spring 1994. At the end of the course, Avani and I had the assignment of decorating for a Futurist end of semester celebration. We bought a lot of funky pens and paper and made cutouts for the walls featuring sounds like "Bang" and "Clunk," wh...

    Chassy Cleland30 Nov 1993

    When I moved to Ann Arbor MI after graduating from our alma mater Hampshire College, I was lucky to find that Avani had also moved there and fronted vocals in a friend's band, Sugo. Halloween was particularly fun with her, as was going out dancing at some infamous spots that included City Club and St. Andrews in Detroit.

    Chassy Cleland1998
    26 Feb 2004San Francisco, CA, United States

    Chassy Cleland Avani had her own way of bursting with feeling. This was during a visit to SF after I hadn't seen her in 3 or 4 years.

    20 Sep 2004Durham, NC, United States

    Liza Hall Avani at an 80s dance party, complete with neon pink nail polish and Duran Duran t-shirt. :) Durham, NC, shortly after starting her MBA.

    Liza H. Also note: Madonna-style mesh hairbow and multiple necklaces :) Avani loved to dance.
    1 Jul 2006Felton, CA, United States

    John Briere I was so happy that Avani was able to attend my wedding

    Liza H. That must've been so great. I wonder if this was the only year after high school that she had short hair?? She grew it out for the first tim...
    26 Aug 2007Berkeley, CA, United States

    Liza Hall Avani relaxing by the fire at my wedding, talking to ShuNahSii.

    26 Aug 2007

    Liza Hall Avani and the other bridesmaids (Erica, Susannah, Beate, Rachael) at my wedding

    26 Aug 2007Berkeley, CA, United States

    Liza Hall Avani representing the element of fire at my wedding. She represented fire because of her Sagittarius Moon. Real fire wasn't allowed in the redwood grove, so she carried an LED ice cube that lit up in red and orange.

    2008

    Gauri Khanna

    4 Aug 2008Mount Tamalpais, CA

    Ram Kapoor Avani enjoyed hiking at Mount Tam.

    3 Nov 2008

    Sonali Chopra

    Liza H. Karaoke queen! With John Briere in the background.
    2010

    Gauri Khanna

    22 Feb 2010

    Sonali Chopra

    30 Sep 2010San Francisco, CA, United States

    Chassy Cleland

    Nov 2010San Francisco, CA, United States

    Liza Hall Avani was a pool shark! I forget the details, but as I recall she actually ranked among the top players in San Francisco.

    2011

    Gauri Khanna

    2011

    Gauri Khanna

    2011

    Gauri Khanna

    1 May 2011

    Sonali Chopra

    21 Aug 2011

    Sonali Chopra

    11 Sep 2011

    Sonali Chopra

    6 Nov 2011San Francisco, CA, United States

    Sonali Chopra Hanging with the cousins in the Mission!

    18 Dec 2011Union Square Ice rink, San Francisco, CA

    Ram Kapoor A cousins' hang at the Union Square skating rink.

    2012

    Gauri Khanna

    2012

    Gauri Khanna In front of The National Gallery in London

    2012

    Gauri Khanna

    7 Jan 2012Mill Valley, CA, United States

    Ram Kapoor A lazy day at 35 Lee, with Zoab.

    4 Mar 2012Mill Valley, CA, United States

    Ram Kapoor Smiles all around - with Nuj, Ryan and Zoab. (I'm behind the camera as usual.)

    20 May 2012Berkeley, CA, United States

    Ram Kapoor We (Indu, Ram, Rush, Zoab) met Avani while watching the solar eclipse from Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley. Cool green glares!

    2013

    Gauri Khanna Pretty in pink at Chetan and Jane's wedding

    2013Los Gatos, CA, United States

    Sonali Chopra Avani looked gorgeous at Chetan and Jane's wedding and did a beautiful reading. I also had so much fun dancing with her at all the events.

    17 May 2013Saratoga, CA, United States

    Ram Kapoor Picture perfect with cool moves. Chetan-Jane's wedding celebrations!

    Gauri K. ❤️
    18 May 2013Saratoga, CA, United States

    Ram Kapoor Dancing with Nuj and Rekha at Chetan-Jane's wedding.

    4 Jul 2013Sausalito, CA, United States

    Ram Kapoor Waiting for the fireworks at Sausalito. July 4th. With her Londoner niece Mila, Zoab, David uncle and Indu.

    2014

    Gauri Khanna Raksha Bandhan ❤️

    Neil I. Love this one!
    2014

    Gauri Khanna

    2015

    Gauri Khanna

    2015

    Gauri Khanna

    2015

    Gauri Khanna

    2015

    Gauri Khanna

    26 Nov 2015San Francisco, CA, United States

    Ram Kapoor The post-Thanksgiving dinner slouch. Jeevs-Sonali the ever gracious hosts.

    4 Dec 2015Mill Valley, CA, United States

    Ram Kapoor A mini family reunion at 35 Lee - in honor of visiting uncles Teji mama and Jiti mama.

    2016India

    Gauri Khanna

    2016

    Gauri Khanna

    30 Apr 2016Mill Valley, CA, United States

    Ram Kapoor Watching a video of Neil jumping out of a carton to surprise his mum!

    2017

    Gauri Khanna

    2017

    Gauri Khanna

    2017

    Gauri Khanna

    2017

    Gauri Khanna

    2017

    Gauri Khanna

    2017

    Gauri Khanna

    2017

    Gauri Khanna Ryan and Ginny's Wedding

    7 May 2017Redwood Regional Park

    Chassy Cleland Avani could be bubbly sometimes.

    2018

    Gauri Khanna

    2018

    Gauri Khanna

    2019

    Gauri Khanna

    2019

    Gauri Khanna

    2019

    Gauri Khanna

    10 Jun 2019Taos, NM, United States

    Mike Hayden Avani visiting her mom in Taos. A photo she sent me of her dancing in the backyard.

    15 Jul 2019NM, United States

    Mike Hayden On our way back from Taos stopping by the river.

    29 Aug 2019Berkeley, CA, United States

    Mike Hayden On a picnic in Tilden.

    15 Sep 2019Berkeley, CA, United States

    Jonathan Harford Avani was a regular at my family's dinner parties. She came most Sundays, and stayed after for conversation and games of Drawful. She laughed a lot, and made us laugh. We miss her.

    23 Oct 2019Oakland, CA, United States

    Mike Hayden Out at a Thai restaurant in Oakland. We had the place to ourselves!

    1 Nov 2019

    Liza Hall Avani loved this description I wrote of "Avani as a wine."

    10 Nov 2019HI, United States

    Mike Hayden In Hawaii picking up some Papaya to enjoy later.

    27 Jul 2020

    Mike Hayden

    8 Aug 2020Berkeley, CA, United States

    Mike Hayden Back in Tilden for a relaxing afternoon in a meadow.

    Sep 2020

    Liza Hall When one of my sons lost his stuffed beaver and made "Missing Beaver" signs to hang around the neighborhood, Avani played along by sending an email where she pretended that she had found a stuffed beaver near our local park and wanted to know if it was ours. My kids were SO EXCITED that the "Missing Beaver" signs had worked! Even though the beaver Avani claimed to have found wasn't ours, they were delighted that someone had found a stuffed beaver, taken good care of it, and reached out in response to the posters. Thank you, Avani, for delighting my kids.

    17 Sep 2020Lagunitas, CA, United States

    Mike Hayden Hiking in Samuel P Taylor Park.

    A Scene with Avani (with love from Roz) [Wolfhound Bar, San Pablo Avenue. Oakland, California, Autumn 2018] “Your elbow is just the hinge. Watch: bring your forearm up like this. See my hand swinging back and forth? Like it’s just hanging there, dead on a hinge? You have to relax your tricep.” We had the backroom with the pool table to ourselv...

    roz plotzker2021

    A haiku for Avani: Sweet beautiful rose Said softly, "Pick me, pick me!" She lives in our hearts.

    Guy Albert21 Mar 2021