YOU don't have to be a hot shot to win respect and affection.
Sarasben Saroj Kanji proved that when it took those who packed out the Convention Centre to farewell her more than half an hour to reach her casket to place flowers on her body, in line with Hindu tradition.
Saroj (Shirley to her Kiwi friends) was a low-key wife and mum who, for 50 years, was known as the "lovely lady in a sari" tending customers in B David & Co's Arawa St fruit shop.
When it closed in 2005, this newspaper recorded it as Rotorua's oldest business, founded by her husband Parbhu's uncle, Kesha Vallabh, at least 80 years earlier.
Locals - Pakeha, Maori and Chinese - were joined by members of the Indian community from throughout the country to pay tribute to a woman who epitomised family values and good, old-fashioned customer service.