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Aliya ALI Obituary
(nee Saddy)
October 9, 1923 - February 16, 2014
On Sunday, February 16, 2014, Aliya Ali
of Edmonton passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family
and friends.
Her memory will be cherished by many in Canada and abroad. She spent her life growing up on a farm and, later in Edmonton. Her studies and work took her to Ottawa and Washington; her marriage took her to Lebanon, Pakistan, Washington and Tokyo. In 1955, Aliya married Mohammed Ali of Bogra, Prime Minister of Pakistan. Widowed in 1963, she lived in Bangladesh and Pakistan for some years before returning to Edmonton. She continued to travel regularly to visit friends and family all over the world. Aliya lived a remarkable life touching the hearts of everyone she met. She personified love, kindness and elegance.
She will be missed by her two children, Mahmoud (Jodie McDonald) and Mahmuda; her brothers, Edward (Marcy), Tom (Fran); her sisters Jean Zrien, Betty (Richard Assaly), and Alma Shaben; and many loving nieces and nephews. Aliya was predeceased by her husband Mr. Mohammed Ali of Bogra; mother Rikia Saddy; father Mahmoud Saddy; and brothers, Jim and Bob.
A Prayer Service will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Foster & McGarvey Funeral Home, 10011-114 Street, Edmonton. Interment will follow at Beechmount Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Operation Smile Canada, PO Box 235, Station Main, Markham, ON, Canada,
L3P 3J7.
To send condolences, please visit: www.fostermcgarvey.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
27 Entries
February 12, 2016
February 12, 2016
My beautiful Auntie Aliya,
Thinking of you and missing you so much.
Your loving niece,
Elaine
Beverly (Bevies) Allen
September 26, 2015
Mahmuda (Mo)and Mahmoud, Please accept my condolences on the death of your beloved mother.
August 23, 2014
Reva Joshee
August 22, 2014
Mahmoud and Mahmuda, I have fond memories of your mother. She wasa gentle and loving person who always welcomed everyone into her home and her heart. My condolences to you and the rest of the family.
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Aliya with her husband Mr Mohammed Ali of Bogra
June 20, 2014
June 20, 2014
Janaan Hashmi-Dekker
March 10, 2014
Our heartfelt prayers to the family. She remains the Princess of our hearts, beautiful, bright and exceptionally kind. She brought that light of kindness and touch to each of our lives and we will always cherish this magnificent soul. Love, Mrs. Nahid Hashmi, Irfan Jan & Veronica, Janaan & Matt Dekker, Shawn Hashmi
Seema Ghufran-Maheshwari
February 25, 2014
Dear Mahmud and Mahmuda,
It was an honour to have known Aunty Aliya for the past three decades. I'm so glad that all of us spent time together last October.
God Bless
Seema
Rikia
February 24, 2014
Aunty Aliya is a queen, who lived with grace and light until the end. You will be missed forever, but your love is still all around us. xo
Joan Youssef
February 23, 2014
To Mahmuda and Mahmud, Alma,Betty and Jean, Ed and Tom. and all Aliya's beloved families. How we loved this wonderful woman. So privileged to be a part of her life. How we will miss her grace, gentleness,her humanness,and her love.
Joanie and Awni Youssef.
February 22, 2014
Richard Assaly
February 22, 2014
She was the Princess Di, of 'our' world......with GRACE she lived, defining the word for me and my family.
February 22, 2014
February 21, 2014
Nevine
February 21, 2014
Aliya Apu,
You will always be remembered.
Jawad Habib
February 21, 2014
Dearest Mahmud and Mahmuda,
I am very sorry for your loss.
We were all very sad to hear the news about your mother. She was a wonderful lady and we were all very fond of her. I wish we could be near you now. I pray for her maghferat and for you the strength to bear her loss.
In grief,
Jawad
February 21, 2014
Mahmuda, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I am sending you my love. Elise
Isabel de la Cruz
February 20, 2014
Beauty and serenity. We will always remeber her.
Ev Hamdon
February 20, 2014
Aunty Aliya inspired and delighted. I will miss her sweet humour - that twinkle in her eye. Sending love and condolences to the whole family. I admired her strength, integrity and intelligence. She is loved by so many and will be missed so very much.
Shauna Newman (Small)
February 19, 2014
To the Saddy family,
My sincere condolences to each and everyone in the loss of your mother, sister, and aunt. Aliya was a very elegant lady; cherish your memories. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Doug Saddy
February 19, 2014
Aunt Aliya was and will continue to be an important part of me and my family. She carried an infectious sense of joy and energy with her while embodying dignity, compassion and a willingness to engage. Her life gave her a remarkable depth and breadth of experience which she shared willingly. She had a wise soul and, like her brothers and sisters, taught us younger generations a lot about life.
Donna Lewis
February 19, 2014
To the Family of Aliya Ali
I am a better person for having known Aliya for a few years. She was the BEST.
February 19, 2014
We will miss this lovely, kind, gentle, woman.Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time. Love Sidney and Faye Hamdon
Vivian Braam
February 19, 2014
Aunty Aliya was the essence of calm, grace and kindness. She set an example of how to live a remarkable life: embracing change and challenges, recognizing the positive in every moment, and loving limitlessly. She expressed kindness and interest to all she met. I think of her when I arrive at a place in life where I need to make an intentional effort to be kind. I say to myself - How would Aunty Aliya handle this?
I am very grateful for our time spent together, especially our trip to Lebanon, our shared recipes and our Sunday phone calls.
I will miss her always - her voice, her laughter, her soft, oh so kissable cheek.
xoxo
Christmas Dinner at Mom's 2013
Carol Shaben
February 19, 2014
Aunt Aliya was one of the most intelligent, regal women I have known. She taught me so much about grace, acceptance and humility. I'll never forget the moment she became so much more than my Aunt. I was travelling in Pakistan as a young woman and Aunt Aliya was in Lahore to give a speech as the country's beloved former first lady. I remember her reading parts of that speech to me and how that quiet moment of sharing opened my eyes to the incredible life she lived, the people she touched and the deep well of wisdom and compassion she drew from every day. I feel so very fortunate to have known her. Her quiet example of strength and openmindedness has enriched my life and, I'm certain, the lives of many, many others. I will miss you dearly. xoxo
February 19, 2014
Betty, Richard, Donna and the Assaly family,
My sincere sympathy in the loss of your sister & aunt. God bless her.
Linda 'Saf' Safronovich
Berant Maggie
February 19, 2014
Aliya - you are one of the most gracious and charming women I have had the pleasure of meeting. Your presence at the dinners hosted by Mahmoud will be very much missed.
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