Victim recalled as caring, selfless, faithful
Slain Bethlehem resident Saran made charitable trips to India
Sarbjit Kaur Saran was remembered as an accomplished, loving and passionate person in an obituary published last week.
“Sarbjit’s life was defined by her faith in God, caring for and serving others, unparalleled work ethic and unwavering love and devotion to her children,” the obituary read.
Police have said Saran was killed by her husband, Bhupinder S. Saran, in a murder-suicide at her Selkirk home on Chesterwood Drive on Wednesday. Both were 58 years old.
Saran was described in the obituary and its comments as a “bright ray of sunshine” who had an uplifting presence. She was an active member of her Sikh Temple and prioritized serving those in need, particularly with her numerous mission trips to underserved parts of India.
“In true Sarbjit fashion, these trips excluded your typical leisure activities as her nature was always to give, not to receive,” the obituary read.
Within two days, the GoFundme page set up by her family received more than $15,000 in donations, with most of it provided by a single $10,000 anonymous donation.
Saran immigrated to the U.S. from India in 1984 and was a graduate from The College of Saint Rose. She climbed the ladder in the information technology department of the state Office of General Services, eventually becoming assistant director.
“Faith, optimism, peace and happiness are the best words to describe Sarbjit,” the obituary said. “Sarbjit was a great gift to many.”
Bethlehem police told the Times Union on Wednesday
that Saran and her husband had a history of domestic violence calls. From 2016 to 2019, police visited the home six times for such incidents. There had been no calls to their department involving the couple within the past 12 months.
Bethlehem Commander Adam Hornick on Wednesday afternoon did not specify the manner of death of either of the spouses, other than to say it did not involve a firearm. The couple have two adult children who live out of state, Hornick said.
At about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday the Bethlehem police received a call from family members asking them to check on the welfare of the couple. When police arrived, they entered the home and found Bhupinder on the first floor and Sarbjit on the second floor, according to a police statement.
There was a current “refrainfrom order of protection” against Bhupinder issued by Albany County Family Court. This order prevented him from having any illegal contact with
his wife, however, it did allow for them to have contact with each other, including living together, Hornick said. No one
else was in the house.
Services for Sarbjit were held Saturday in Delmar, according to her obituary.