Fashion magnate Simone Tata, the mother of Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata and the stepmother of the late Ratan Tata, passed away on Friday at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital, aged 95.
This follows her brief battle with several symptoms of Parkinson's disease that worsened in August this year, when she was airlifted from Dubai to Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital, as per a Times of India report.
Swiss-origin Simone leaves behind a colossal legacy as the co-founder of Lakme, one of the most famous cosmetics brands to come out of India, and later laying the foundation for Trent Limited, the group behind popular retail chain Westside.
"She also guided the work of many philanthropic organisations, including the Sir Ratan Tata Institute,” a Tata Group spokesperson said in a statement, highlighting the former Tata Group director's key role in the $180 billion conglomerate.
The statement added that her last respects would be offered in a service at the Cathedral of the Holy Name Church in Colaba.
Simone Tata is survived by her son and Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry (the sister of the late Cyrus Mistry); and her grandchildren—Neville, Maya, and Leah.
(More details are awaited.)
