File Kadeli

File Kadeli passed away in the early morning of November 20th, not long after saying goodbye to and blessing those closest to her. Although we are filled with sadness at her unexpected departure, we are comforted knowing that she peacefully embraced God’s plan for her and was looking forward to joining her parents, Pashk and Maria Kcira and her brothers Kol and Lazar.

File came to the U.S. when she was 21 years old with her husband Gjon and their six-month-old baby. Despite not knowing how to speak, read, or write English, she quickly adapted and thrived in her new home, while staying true to her Albanian roots, a heritage that defined how she approached all aspects of her life. File raised three children, Lek (Ellen) Kadeli, Martha (Joe) Adamson, and Kristina (Gavin) Saunders, continually coaching them about the right way to do things…which was typically the Albanian way.

God and family always came first, and File served both passionately. She was a committed Catholic, never missing mass and continually praying for family and friends. She prayed the rosary daily, a discipline she continued in her final days. File was exceptionally hospitable, always happy when folks dropped by for a visit, showering them with good food and drink and providing a warm welcome. She had the ability to hold a friendly conversation with just about anybody and stayed in touch with family and friends far and wide. When her grandkids bought her an iPad and introduced her to Facebook, she connected with the younger generation, staying in touch, and building quite a network of “friends.”

File created a beautiful loving space for her nine grandchildren, Peter (Annie) Kadeli, Gjon (Mary) Kadeli, Andrew (Marin) Saunders, Mrika (Chris) Harrigan, Kelsey (Alex) Batta, Claire Saunders, Lily Saunders, Elizabeth Kadeli, and Nathanael Adamson. She has ten great-grandchildren and counting. Her grandchildren quote her regularly, usually with an Albanian accent. Some of the all-time favorites:

“Never trust anyone that speaks badly about their own family.”

“When you respect yourself, others will respect you, too.”

“When you eat and pray together, you stay together.”

“Always defend your family.”

“Family together is the richest thing.”

“When you help others, you help yourself.”

“Women shouldn’t whistle in the house after 5 p.m.” This one is a head-scratcher, but we’ll trust her on this.

In the past year, File traveled to Portugal to walk the Camino de Santiago with a few of her children and grandchildren, trekking 15-20 miles a day…at age 82! One fellow pilgrim, whom she met along the way, commented, “Her strength, positivity, and infectious smile left a lasting impression on us, and we felt fortunate to have crossed paths with such a remarkable soul. During our journey, File displayed a rare combination of resilience and grace. We believe that her presence illuminated the path for those fortunate enough to share the journey with her.”

File’s faith in God and deep commitment to family are a rich legacy that will endure for generations. Her integrity, kindness, generosity, and continual ability to forgive set a high standard for all those that loved her. In the eyes of our secular world, she didn’t “accomplish” much, but in reality, she did the most important and hardest work. Rest in Peace File – you are deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

File is survived by her husband Gjon Kadeli, her brother Father Anton Kcira, all those already mentioned, as well as in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins too numerous to name here.

A visitation will be held at Murphy’s funeral home from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, November 24th, 1102 W. Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046.

The funeral mass will be held at St. James Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 25th, 905 Park Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. James Catholic Church, with a specific request that the funds be used to help the poor.