Farida Ashbrook

Farida Ashbrook, was born Farida Kassam in Eldoret, Kenya in East Africa on December 27, 1930 to Alli and Pan Kassam. She passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025, at the age of 94. She was very alert and had a kind, playful, and thoughtful demeanor up to her passing.
Farida's parents were both born in India and immigrated to Kenya when they were both young. Farida was the youngest of 8 children. She had 4 older sisters and 3 older brothers. Farida was the last surviving sibling of that family.
Farida and her first husband, Kassamali Manjee Janmohamed, with their two young children, immigrated to the United States to California in 1958. She immediately understood what a great blessing this could be for the family. She insisted on remaining in the United States despite pressure to return to Kenya, having the foresight that America would be better for her family in the future. Her determination to remain in the U.S. was a key factor that ultimately led to a divorce.
As a 28-year-old women who spoke very little English, she got a job in a factory in San Diego to support the family. She insisted that her children be responsible and get good grades. She was always focused on the future and sacrificed personal comfort and possessions to ensure her children had what they needed. She was so proud that both her boys graduated with advanced degrees at university, although she worried when they both served in the U.S. military.
In 1971, She married Robert Ashbrook and was happily married to him until his death in 2014.
Farida was known for being very social and loved dinner parties and playing games. She was always a talker and loved to be with and around family and friends and people from all different backgrounds. She has also always been known to be kind to those around her and she is loved by all those who have been blessed to know her. She loved and was loved by all the residents and staff at Escalante at Coventry, where she has lived for the past 6+ years, and the members of the Church who came to know her and love her as she loved them.
A deeply spiritual woman, Farida has relied on prayer all her life and always had great faith. In 2011, she had a miraculous experience in prayer and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had a powerful dedication to the Church and her faith in Jesus Christ was sure. In the months before her passing, she expressed a desire to go home to Father in Heaven but acknowledged she would wait until it was her time to return home.
Farida is survived by her son Shafique Janmohamed and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her firstborn son, Salim Janmohamed, preceded her in passing in December 2024.