Mahin B. Rassi

1934 - 2025

Mahin Rassi, Mahin Khanum, Mom, Sister, Auntie, Cousin, but to me, Grandma was an Iranian force of womanhood who fled the Iranian Revolution of 1979 to lead her family to a better life and redefine the American dream in Champaign, Illinois. My Grandmother earned an MS in Textile Sciences from the University of Illinois and served as the Costume Shop Manager at the Krannert Center from 1984 to 2004. Her hospitality made her house a community pillar for other immigrant families around Champaign. She passed in the arms of my father, Barmack, on March 15th at Carle Hospital in Champaign; She was 91. She peacefully lies next to her Husband just a stone's throw away from Memorial Stadium. When my family arrived in America, they settled in Champaign, IL, due to its strong agricultural program and their willingness to accept us. They went from having everything in Iran-maids, nannies, and land-to having nothing in America. Yet, my grandmother always said she "had a great relationship with her brain." She worked tirelessly, caring for her two sons and much older husband while working full-time as a costume cutter and earning her second master's degree. My dad distinctly remembers encountering the old mascot of the University Of Illinois, the Chief. She made sure the Chief was well outfitted for the big games. Mahin loved Champaign and refused to leave. It was a mark of peace and comfort for her, where she brought her family to safety and watched them flourish. She remained disciplined, made her bed until her last days, always dressed up, and was generous to those around her. She always reminded me she's not 91 but 21, and her youthful spirit lives on in us all. Your story remains in us and will continue for generations through the aroma of Persian spices and the act of sharing a meal with strangers and loved ones alike. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mahin B. Rassi, please visit our floral store.