Kiwi mum’s shock death in India
Woman dies suddenly during family trip overseas
Family and friends of a young Kiwi mum are reeling from her mysterious, shocking death while on a family trip to India. Bianca Antonia Sasha Spence, who had just turned 25 on November 7, was the mother of a three-year-old boy. Bianca was born and raised in Whangārei.
On December 24, she along with her husband and son flew to India for the first time.
The trip was a much-anticipated one, her elder sister Juliana Saini told the Herald.
“This was the first time she was visiting her husband’s family in India. They were all very excited and happy to have her visit. They had started preparations for a big event to celebrate.”
But on December 30, just three days after arriving, Bianca died unexpectedly.
Saini said the news of her sister’s death came as a shock and was “heartbreaking”.
“She had no health issues that we know of. The autopsy shows she died of a heart attack.
“Her husband, Arwinder, asked for an investigation into her death himself, and this has been ruled as natural causes.
“This has left a huge hole in our lives and our hearts,” Saini said.
Saini said as an elder sister, she was the closest to Bianca, and the loss for
both families was unimaginable.
“I was always with her, we worked as early childhood teachers together. She was living with me in Auckland.
“Bianca was loved by so many. She was kind, gentle, artistic and fun, and she was most often everyone’s favourite teacher. She was very talented with her artwork and could do the most amazing face-painting designs, especially dinosaurs.
“She made the most stunning bride, we will never forget the happiness of that day. Both families attended the wedding, with
Arwinder’s Mum and Dad coming over from India for the special occasion.
“No one could ask for a better mama, and Bianca loved her son more than anything. My daughter arrived in 2021 and she was like a second mother to her too, a doting Massi (Aunty).”
Saini said the young couple were “so in love” and their life together had only just begun.
“And now it has ended so suddenly. Arwinder is heartbroken, Mehran has been left without his
mum and the rest of us have to carry on with a huge hole in our hearts, there will always be a missing piece.
“Her three-year-old son keeps asking ‘where is mummy? where is mummy?’, he doesn’t know what’s going on, he’s just a child.”
Saini said she and her husband travelled up north on Friday to tell her parents the devastating news as soon as they could.
“Our parents were just heartbroken. There are no words to describe the loss of your child.”
Bianca was very happy in India,
Saini said, seeing and experiencing the culture first-hand.
“You could see from the photos she sent us just how happy she was.
“The family in India couldn’t believe it. They feel guilty because she came to meet them. Everyone is horrified about her sudden death. And so many are blaming themselves for something out of their control.”
Saini has started a givealittle page to help bring Bianca home and ease the financial stress on Arwinder who needs time off work to look after his young son.