Renee DALLAL

At the age of 91, Renee Dallal (nee Yacob), passed peacefully on April 15, 2024, surrounded by her family. Born in Baghdad, Iraq on new years day, January 1, 1933, Renee, just a young girl, survived the pogrom in Baghdad on Shavuot 1941. Renee was an inspiration to her family and community. For almost 30 years she was President of the Iraqi Jewish Association of Ontario. She took pride in organizing community parties, festivities, and dinners bringing speakers and putting together a monthly newsletter to keep the community together like one big family. Like her late husband Naim, keeping the traditions alive were so very important. When Renee was married at only 15 years of age, she stopped school and started a family. With her husband, they moved around the world from Iraq, London England and Israel and finally Canada raising 4 children. Each relocation presented new challenges as they started all over again. When her children were grown and at age 65, she returned to school 50 years after her last class in Baghdad to pursue her passion which was art. She loved the classes, the students and the professors. She would joyfully tell stories about her day. And in 2004, in front of her children and grandchildren, she graduated from OCAD. Renee was known for her incredible cooking and baking. From the traditional Iraqi dishes to New York cheesecake, her family and friends were the great beneficiaries of her talents in the kitchen. One of her greatest traits was her optimism. Every story, no matter how bad it seemed, always had a happy ending. With this outlook on life, she was always able to take even the most difficult situations and see the good. Renee's greatest love - her pride and joy - was her family. Her heart was bigger than words can describe, bursting with kindness and generosity. She was a most dedicated wife to her husband Naim. She loved and adored her children and grandchildren. She joyfully cooked and baked for them, surrounded them with warm hugs and kisses, and comforted them. She is predeceased by her parents, Khatoon and Aziz Yacoob; her brother, Maurice, and her loving husband of 72 years, Dr. Naim Dallal. She is survived by her four children, Joseph (Barbara), Ida (Kamal), Laura (Brian) and Steven ( Cindy); her nine grandchildren; David ( Sarah), Jesse (Victoria), Nicole (Aaron), Rachel (Jeremy), Jessica (Jonathan), Benji, Nathan, Lindsay and Chloe; and her six great- grandchildren, Mia, Olivia, Zachary, Oren, Juliette and Soli. Memorial donations may be made to the Iraqi Jewish Association of Ontario, www.IJAO.ca/donation