Sulochana Patnaik, 74, of Port Orange, FL passed away on September 4, 2024. She was born on June 14, 1950 in Khorda, India to parents Gangadhar and Sudha Patnaik.

She earned her Masters degrees in both Odia Literature and in Education.  She taught English literature in Odisha, India.   With an adventurous spirit, she then embarked on a move to Montreal, Canada.

She continued this new chapter of her life as a wife and mother, as well as returning for further education and obtained a degree in business. Eventually immigrating to the US, she then proceeded to have a successful career in banking and financial advising, until her retirement.

With a tenaciousness and strong willed personality, she raised three sons to be accomplished in their own rights.

She was active in the Odia community especially in the Philadelphia and Baltimore regions.  She was a pre-eminent member and served as vice president of The Odisha Society of The Americas.

She was an accomplished writer, especially with writing in her native language of Odia.  She published many poems and articles in her childhood and earned several awards in writing.  In her later years, she also wrote a book of Odia poems.  She was fierce in her love of literature and encouraged her children, nieces, nephews, and her students to write also and write frequently.

Sulochana is survived by her loving husband, Joy Mohanty, her son Viswa Mohanty and daughter in law Stacey, her son Guru Mohanty and daughter in law Sheetal, and her youngest son, Alok Mohanty. Also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Sulakshana and Shukdeb Sen, niece, Susan, as well as grandchildren Ajani, Aidan, and Aditi, and her extended family in the US, India, and across the world.

She will be extremely missed and remembered by her family and friends.  Om Shanti.