When I first met Mariam she saw me photographing some clothes in a store window on Yonge street in Toronto. She came up and asked me what I was doing. I explained to her that I wasn’t really photographing the clothes, but rather the reflection of the street scene in the window. We started chatting, and what really struck me about her was her beauty … the lovely colour of her skin and her eyes. And I noticed she didn’t speak with any real accent! I was curious … where was she from? At first I thought she was South American, and she always teased me about that. She told me it was her birthday, so I suggested we go for a coffee and a snack to celebrate. The rest is history. I was truly intrigued with her. I was smitten.

One thing we realized we had in common quite early in our relationship was our passion for travel. She loved seeing new places, meeting people and easily made instant connections anywhere in the world. We met many of our closest friends from Europe on a trip to Kenya in 1989.
Mariam loved to shop while traveling and we spent a lot of time buying souvenirs, but only a few of them were for us. She mainly bought souvenirs to give to friends, family and co-workers back home. She always made friends with the vendors … and of course being an accountant tried to get a quantity discount!
Mariam found great joy in giving. I truly have never met anyone who enjoyed the act of giving as much as Mariam. She would go out of her way to find any opportunity to give in some way. She would always give to the homeless. There’s one exit ramp off the 427 in Toronto where a homeless person always was stationed. Before we got to the corner, Mariam would have her purse out and a toonie ready.
She sponsored child in Africa through Foster Parents Plan Canada for years and gave to local food bank in South River.
Speaking of food, Mariam was an excellent cook. She made Indian curries, biryanis, tandoori chicken, kebabs, pakoras and samosas. Everyone loved coming to our place for dinner because they knew they would enjoy an authentic home-cooked Indian meal. She also made great chili, pasta dishes and beef stews.
There’s one thing that Mariam is famous for around the world … her nutloafs. She would give nutloafs to neighbours, visitors, even the guy at the landfill site! At the Etobicoke Jamat, many people bid on her nutloafs. People would ask her “did you bring some cake” when she arrived in the evening and there we often bidding wars for her nutloafs.
When we moved to Mississauga, she got into gardening and became quite knowledgeable about all types of flowers and shrubs, and really loved roses and lilies. She enjoyed tilling the soil, down on her knees, working with mother nature with her hands.

She also really enjoyed cottaging … going for walks through the bush, swimming and taking boat rides. We relaxed by taking our chairs, some snacks and boating to our favourite secluded beach on the lake. Often she would take her morning tea down to the dock and just enjoy the lake view and the sound of the lapping waves.
Mariam always liked to learn new things. Over the years she took courses in ballroom dancing, tai chi, potterymaking, yoga and speaking spanish. I was very proud of the fact that my wife could speak four languages.
She enjoyed sports … watching hockey, basketball and baseball games — at least when the Blue Jays were winning. But our real passion was Formula One auto racing. My brother Al got her interested, and once Mariam gets interested in something, she really learns all she can about it. After a few seasons, Al would be asking Mariam about the drivers, teams or engines. She knew everything about it.
Mariam was very spiritual and prayed two or more times every day. One prayer was usually with Zaher Samji, who called almost every day of her life. When we were with friends, she would excuse herself and would say “I have a date with God”.
Mariam was very proud of Aga Khan and the work he did. She absolutely worshiped him, and loved telling friends and visitors stories about the Aga Khan’s work in developing countries. She glowed with pride and enthusiasm whenever she talked about him.
She went to Jamat regularly in Toronto and Mississauga when we lived there. She was a volunteer for many years and served as a Lieutenant in Etobicoke Jamat in 1993. She looked so cute in her volunteer uniform.
This sense of duty really was apparent in her relationship with her mother, whom she was totally devoted to. At her last job in Toronto, she only worked a four day week so she could spend every Monday with her mother. We called Monday “mommy day”.

When she started treatments in Barrie, we would go the day before and she would go to the Barrie Jamat. She was warmly welcomed by the Barrie Jamat and quickly met a lot of new people and made new friends.
At this time I’d like to take a moment and thank some very special people …
First, to Zahir Samji – Zahir, you have been a rock throughout Mariam’s whole life. You were very, very special to Mariam. God bless you.
To her Sister Gulshan – who set up a Zoom meeting so all Mariam’s relatives could talk to her on what would be her last birthday. It was a very special event for everyone, especially Mariam.
To Dolly Sachedina – Dolly was Mariams “confidant” during her illness. She was always there to comfort Mariam and give her support and advice.
To the Barrie Jamat and Minister Nancy Lalany – Thank you for all the love and support you’ve given Mariam. It meant so much to her … and to me.
To the people I call the “Foodies” – Thanks to Kelly and Martin Lachapelle and Almas and Abdul Ramji who have brought us food on many occasions. As well as Almas Jamal, Nasim Kassam, Linda Schreiter and others. It was greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.
And to my brother Al – You’ve always been there for me on so many occasions, whenever I’ve asked. Mariam really, really loved you and it was so special spending Mariam’s last vacation in Puerto Vallarta with you.
To wrap up … It breaks my heart that my better half is gone. She was so, so beautiful inside and out. I was truly blessed to have such a wonderful person in my life for 44 years. Mariam had a very positive outlook throughout her life and great enthusiasm for whatever she did. She was always kind and giving to others. She always inspired me to become a kinder, more caring person. I have lost my wife, my lover, my support system and most of all … my best friend. We’ll be together again someday, my sweet Mariam.
I’d like to leave you with a short poem that really puts into words my feelings today …
Those we love don’t go away,
they walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard but always near,
still loved, still missed and very dear.
Thank You
Unlike Christian funerals, Ismali funerals do not include eulogies. After the funeral, all attendees were invited to a meal at a nearby restaurant. This eulogy was given at that gathering.