Ursula S. Dinshah passed peacefully on August 2, 2023, at age 92 surrounded
by loving family and cats. She was a remarkable woman known for her zest for life,
creativity, and resilience.
Born Ursula Plotzki in Leipzig, Germany, on October 15, 1930, her formative years were
shaped by the tumultuous times of World War II. During the war she learned the art of
foraging, especially mushrooms, a skill that ignited her lifelong passion for organic
gardening and natural beauty.
A lover of the outdoors, Ursula enjoyed hiking in the Alps. From her youth, she held a
fascination for the stars above, nurturing a lifelong interest in astronomy. She also loved
to sit and enjoy the sunshine.
In 1959, Ursula expressed her freedom by voting with her feet and escaped from East
Germany to West Germany, just before the rise of the Berlin Wall that defined the Cold
War. That same year, she married Siegfried Seiler, and together they brought three
children into the world: Michael, Peter, and Connie.
After Siegfried, she found love again in a most unexpected place—a personal ad. This
led her to Jal J. Dinshah, whom she married May 29, 1967, marking the beginning of a
loving union that would last over 50 years. On February 18, 1968, Ursula moved to
Malaga NJ with Michael and Connie, to be with Jal in the home he built for them.
Ursula’s creative soul shone brightly in her dried flower artistry. She crafted intricate
framed pictures around poems or a wedding invitation, and arrangements using
everlasting plants. Her large garden was featured in local papers. Vegetables and
flowers thrived under her nurturing care, reflecting her innate connection to the earth.
She was super fond of homegrown blackberries, figs, and persimmons. Each fall, fruits
of her persimmon tree made gifts for everyone she knew, and she loved counting every
one of the annual hundreds or thousands of persimmons depending on the year.
Ursula was a phenomenal cook, known for her delicious and healthful vegan meals
prepared with love from her garden’s bounty. Ursula was well versed in the use of
herbs, color, and healing, and gave talks and demonstrations on their use. She was
friends with many local farmers for whom she would barter for their fennel, peaches,
and apples. She was even known to share her bounty of persimmons and black walnuts
when visiting the doctor.
Her voice filled homes and hearts, resonating in the choruses alongside Jal for more
than three decades. Ursula also enjoyed playing the recorder, harmonica, and piano.
Ursula enthusiastically celebrated birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter with
flower arrangements and food baskets. She was skilled in therapies such as massage,
energy balancing, and reflexology. When Ursula and sister-in-law Lois attended healing
workshops together, Ursula brought enough food for the whole group, and flowers to
brighten up the place. Ursula also attended psychic groups and had an amazing gift for
finding 4-leaf clovers.
She is survived by her children Michael and Connie, grandsons Alex, Eric, Ben, and
Nardos. Ursula will be remembered for her love, energy, and radiant spirit.
A celebration of her life is being planned in the fall. Please contact family for details
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