Adele Nassief Soffa

Adele "Dellie" Nassief Soffa was born on August 1, 1931 in Los Angeles, California, the second child of Elias and Lena Nassief. Her father emigrated from Lebanon with his family while her mother was born in Los Angeles to Lebanese immigrants. Adele grew up working in her parents' grocery store in downtown Los Angeles near Union Station. She was trilingual, fluent in English, Arabic, and Spanish. Barely tall enough to see over the counter, she was a natural born saleswoman, enjoying waiting on customers in the tiny store by telling them what and how much they needed to buy, a skill that would serve her well throughout her life. She had a larger-than-life personality and an uncompromising work ethic that went with it.
Adele grew up in Alhambra and earned an AA degree from Pasadena City College. Retail was in her blood and she went to work for Gallenkamp Shoes, quickly moving up from salesperson to store manager. Her big break was a job at The Broadway Department Store, where in 15 years she advanced from sales to vice-president. There was no secret to Adele's success, she simply worked harder than everyone else.
In 1961, she married the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Soffa, and they first settled in San Gabriel. They shared the same work ethic and drive to succeed which led them to their next chapter, owning their own businesses. In 1979, she and business partner Joyce Searls founded Adele Joyce, a company that designed, manufactured, and distributed women's sweaters. Bob and Adele purchased a warehouse in Commerce with Bob running his company, Soffa Electric, out of one half and Adele running her company out of the other.
In 1980, they moved to San Marino where they would reside the rest of their lives. They were inseparable throughout their 30 years of marriage until Bob tragically passed away after a short illness in 1991. Adele ran Soffa Electric for the next twenty years until her own health issues led to her retirement. Most who knew her thought that business was her life, but those who knew her best understood there was more to her than that. Above all she treasured the moments spent with family, especially those times crammed around the kitchen table, elbow-to-elbow with her brother, two sisters, and their spouses, and later her seven nieces and nephews, eating, telling stories and laughing themselves silly at family dinners on Sunday.
Adele and Bob were generous supporters of many charities including St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral and the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. They were also instrumental in the establishment of The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, a philanthropic organization benefitting youth, clergy and their families, seminarians, and those in need.
Adele will be remembered by family and friends as a true force of nature, a trailblazer in the business world, and for her relentlessness, generosity, humor, and love of ice cream. She is survived by her brother, Philip Nassief, her sisters, Joyce Nassief Simon and Carole Nassief Wong, her seven nieces and nephews, 15 great-nieces and nephews, many cousins, and dear friend and business partner, Joyce Searls.
Her funeral service will be held on September 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, 2300 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, 90057. Interment to follow at Forest Lawn, Glendale. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral. May Adele's memory be eternal.