Nawal Mourad

Nawal Mourad (née Nader) of Gaithersburg, MD passed away of natural causes at 9:15am on December 5th 2022. She was 86 years old.

Nawal was born the second of six children on September 8th, 1936, in Deir Mimas, Lebanon, to Mary and William Nader, a Presbyterian minister, and spent her early years in both Lebanon and Syria. As a young adult she began teaching elementary school in Lebanon and Syria, earning her Baccalaureate in Literature along the way. She earned three full scholarships to American University of Beirut, Beirut College for Women and Goshen College of Indiana, the latter of which took her to the United States where she studied speech and drama. She then embarked on a new life chapter, marrying Dr. Nabeeh Mourad in 1965, a biochemist and avid gardener, with whom she raised 3 sons, and eventually naturalized as a US citizen in 1972. After living in Rhode Island, New York, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Virginia, they eventually settled in Gaithersburg, Maryland in 1975 where she became an active member of Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, teaching classes, counseling, volunteering for hospice as well as meals on wheels, and speaking in the pulpit whenever she had the chance. Nawal spent her life as an active member of the community, teaching, traveling, volunteering, advocating for peace and understanding in the Middle East, and caring for children.

While a full-time mom, she remained a lifelong learner, reading several books a week for decades, completing ten courses at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC, a certification in early childhood education, and participating in numerous conferences throughout the US and educational explorations of Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, England, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

In her own words:

"I've learned to be patient, to persevere, to have faith in God's presence and His help. I learned what it means to raise three boys, to have diplomacy, courage and persistence. I've learned to broil and freeze eggplant, beans and squash, and can tomatoes. I watched and heard the wines gurgle in the basement, and yes burst occasionally on the floor. I have had great joy in seeing the beauty of this land from East to West, North and South. I rejoice greatly, and still do, for the change of color in the Fall. I loved the Spring with its azaleas, dogwoods and cherry tree blossoms. I loved the freedoms this country offered: the freedom to be me, and not what others expected me to be, to travel from state to state without a passport, to be part of a community that shared my joys and ministered to my pains. What a privilege it has been as I embark on the next part of my journey, for I know that my redeemer livith there."

She is survived by sons Nash Mourad, Ramsey Mourad, Reem Mourad, sisters Najat Mourad, Sonia Jubrail, Amal Cahoon, brothers Esam Nader, Adib Nader, granddaughter Raina Mourad, as well as an honorary daughter, Courtney Hejl Melvin.

A memorial service was held online and in person at 11am on January 7, 2023 at Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. To see the event, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ65XqBhxyc. A slide show in honor of her memory can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSZ-DDGVUjo

If you wish to make a charitable donation in her name, Nawal supported the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund:

https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/pcrf1/campaign.jsp?campaign=14&fundraiser=341981