Jamila Nawfel

1925 - 2017

WATERVILLE - Jamila H. Nawfel, 92 of Waterville passed away unexpectedly at her residence on Dec. 29, 2017.

She was born in Natick, Mass. on Feb. 20, 1925, daughter of John A. and Rose J. (Homsy) Haddad. Jamila was educated in Natick schools, graduating from Natick High School in 1942. As a young girl growing up with her brothers and sisters, Jamila helped on the family farm, especially taking care of their vegetable gardens and many fruit trees. This became her passion and continued throughout her life. She loved to pick her own fruits and vegetables when in season, and would insist on going to local farms rather than shopping in grocery stores.

As a young woman, Jamila worked in her father's garment factory in Boston, as a fore-lady running the day-to-day operations of the business. Jamila was also very involved in her church, Saint John of Damascus in Boston, Mass. where she was a member of the Syrian Orthodox Youth Organization (SOYO). She played the lead in many Arabic musicals in her church, and could recite some of her verses until the present day.

She met her husband Dr. Elias Richard Nawfel in Boston, and married in 1957. They later moved and settled in Waterville and raised their family. Jamila worked as the office manager in her husband's dental practice for 25 years. One of the most important aspects of her life was maintaining her Arabic heritage with her family. She demonstrated this through cooking many traditional dishes, as well as baking many Arabic sweets up until the present. She loved the Arabic language and passed on this love to future generations by insisting on maintaining these traditions.

She will be remembered for her sense of humor, her abundant energy, and her beautiful smile. This radiant personality allowed her to easily interact with any generation, especially older, non-native family members.

Jamila was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Elias Richard Nawfel; her parents; her siblings George J. and his wife Rachel Haddad, Lillian and her husband Antoon Khouri, Russell J. Haddad, and Gloria and her husband Frederick Matook.

Jamila is survived by three loving children, RoseMarie (Nawfel) Stamboulides and her husband Nico of Ashland, Mass., Richard D. Nawfel of Waltham, Mass., and Elias J. Nawfel and his wife Eleni of Waterville; her two brothers, Mitchell J. Haddad and his wife Marion of Natick, Mass., Alfred J. Haddad and his wife Marjorie of Arlington, Mass., and a sister-in-law Arlene Haddad of Natick, Mass. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Elias G. Nawfel, John C. Nawfel, Christopher C.B. Nawfel, and Maria E. Nawfel; as well as several nieces, nephews; and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held from 3-7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018 at the First Congregational Church on 7 Eustis Parkway in Waterville. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 at the First Congregational Church with Archpriest John K. Teebagy presiding. Interment will be in the spring, date to be determined, in Pine Grove Cemetery, Waterville.

Arrangements are under the direction of Veilleux Funeral Home, 8 Elm Street, Waterville

www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com.

Donations in Jamila's memory

may be made to the:

Church of St. John of Damascus

300 West Street

Dedham, MA 02026, or

St. Jude Children's

Research Hospital

PO Box 1893

Memphis, TN 38101-9950