Sajida Shariff

A life well lived came to a conclusion on Sunday, January 19, 2025 with the passing of Sajida Shariff at Aurora Bay Care Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Sajida was born on December 11, 1942 in Bangalore, India, the eldest child of Hajee Abdul Aziz and Mehboob Bee. Sajida married Ismail Shariff on October 16th, 1960 and gave birth to her eldest son, Mansoor on July 31, 1961. A few days after Mansoor was born, her husband left for America to continue his studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sajida and Mansoor joined him in August 1962. It was the first time she had ever flown and she had to travel all the way to the other side of the planet in the company of a 1 year old. She demonstrated amazing resilience and that would be one of her hallmarks moving forward.
In Madison, she quickly got involved with the community at Eagle Heights, the graduate student housing located next to Lake Mendota. Friendships made in those early days continued for decades.
In 1967, her second son, Mazkoor, was born in Madison. Later that year, they relocated to Manitowoc, Wisconsin for a brief two year stint while Ismail worked at UW - Manitowoc. In 1969, they moved to Green Bay, which was her home for the next 55 years. It is said that life begins when you push your boundaries and get out of your comfort zone. In her case, she not only pushed the boundaries, she obliterated them. By nature, a shy person, Sajida evolved in a way no one could imagine over the course of the next 6 decades. In the early 1970s, she had a series of poems published in the Green Bay Press Gazette. She learned how to play bridge as a young woman and eventually became a Grand Master. She learned how to cook as a new housewife and became a culinary legend throwing epic parties. She never had any acting experience growing up, but got involved in the local theater group, Starlight Players. Always smiling with a song in her heart and ready to break out in a dance at parties, one of her life highlights was dancing with her granddaughter Julia at her wedding. Intellectually curious well into her 80s, she was constantly in learning mode.
Sajida was like a force of nature. She loved meeting people. She would take members from the Senior Center to various restaurants in the Greater Green Bay Area for ethnic themed lunches. She started chair yoga lessons for Seniors and taught water aerobics to pregnant women at the YMCA. If you dropped by her house, she would make sure you left with a full stomach and leftovers in Tupperware. And if you stayed much longer, she would get you to help out with one of her pet projects in the community. She had that kind of influence on people.
She adored her children, Mansoor and Mazkoor. She adored her daughters in law, Kelly and Mary, who were more like daughters to her. She adored her grandchildren, Alex, Zach, Julia and Jacob. Whether it was playing games or dancing or watching shows with them, she was always their Amiji.
She reached out in the community, serving on many boards and volunteering over the course of her life. She was a founding member of the Women's Interfaith Group which worked to build an understanding of religious and cultural differences. She was active at The Richard Mauthe Center; JOSHUA, an interfaith social justice organization; People for People; and scores of other groups that she devoted her time, energy and talent. She spread a message of love and tolerance, frequently giving talks on Islam and Indian culture. She also volunteered at local schools and hospitals. For all that she did, she was honored to be the recipient of two different community awards; the Mediation Center of Greater Green Bay Carol Montie Community Service Award in 2006 and the American Association of University Women's Dreamers and Doers award for her lifetime of service to the Greater Green Bay community in 2015.
She was married to Dr. Ismail Shariff for over 62 years until his passing in 2022. A seasoned world traveler, Sajida spent time in India, Canada Nigeria, Spain, Japan, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. She had many dear friends all over the world. Her friends from the Indian community (both old and new), her friends from the Fox Valley Islamic Society (of which she was a founding member), and her Allouez crew, especially Nancy Boeddicker, Barb Shiffer, Mary Blake, and Kathy Heitl, who were like sisters to Sajida. She was also helped by several caregivers from Home Instead, especially Diane Melnarik and Diane Garsow. In her last two months, she moved to Bellevue Senior Living where she made many friends, playing duplicate bridge and participating in trivia and sing alongs.
On New Year's Eve, she attended a gala party where she danced the night away and had a cake made in her honor. She had a wonderful time that night and told her family that these last few weeks had been among the best times of her life. The smile she had that night was one of pure joy and that is how she will be remembered.
Mother, wife, Amiji, sister, auntie, community activist, volunteer, teacher, friend.these are some of the roles she played in a remarkable life full of love, laughter and happiness.
She is survived by her two loving sons, Mansoor and Mazkoor, her daughters in law, Kelly and Mary; and her grandchildren, Alex, Zach, Julia (and her husband Michael Rusin) and Jacob. She was preceded in death by her parents, Abdul Aziz and Mehmood Bee, her husband Dr. Ismail Shariff and her sister, Shakeera Rahman.
A funeral service was held on Wednesday January 22, 2025 at the Islamic Center of Wisconsin in Appleton followed by burial at Riverside Cemetery in Appleton. The family would like to recognize the outstanding care she received at Aurora Bay Care Hospital. The ICU Nurses, Physicians, Respiratory Therapists and Hospice Staff gave her the best and most compassionate care possible and for that, we are most appreciative.
A celebration of her life will be held in the spring. In lieu of memorial donations the family requests that you give to the house of worship or charity of choice in her honor.
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