No one gave me the perspective on life that my Momani gave me. She was a world traveler until late in her life, and always made an effort to learn about the culture and the language of the people in the country she was visiting. In Italy, she smiled at the sight of people singing and eating dinner in the streets. In Iran, she showed me and my brother the places she grew up visiting, and spoke with us about how everything has changed, but will ultimately get better. The way that she spoke to me about her trip to Malaysia was full of energy and excitement, and I will always be amazed at the love my Momani had for this world. She encouraged me to travel even if I didn’t want to, and taught me the value of incorporating different cultures into my life with her frequent trips between our home and hers.
As a young boy I remember speaking with Momani on the phone every week and spending my days with her while she was in the U.S.. Since I was young, she asked me about soccer, school, and my plans for the weekend. She always encouraged us to do the best we could in school so that we could have fun and be stress free. She loved to go on walks and enjoy the sun with me and my siblings, encouraging us to only speak in Farsi with her on the way. Momani often held kelas farsi for us when we wanted to learn more and loved teaching us about the Iranian language. She always told us how it was important to learn Farsi so that we could speak with our cousins and family in Iran, and as I grew older I realized this to be true. Because of the way she pushed us to learn Farsi, I am a stronger member of my family. When she introduced me to my cousins in Iran for the first time, I was able to speak with them in Farsi and learn about their lives in a way that would have been impossible had I not learned from Momani. She encouraged us to value the language and make friends with other students that spoke Farsi so we could practice with them while she was in Iran, and because of that, I have built lifelong friendship with my Iranian friends that would have never been possible without Momani’s encouragement.
I got to spend a lot of time with Momani going to and from doctors appointments over the past year. We spoke about my future, traveling, what it was like living in Iran and the history of our family amongst other things. She loved having lunch with me after her appointments were finished and I loved having the chance to speak with her after being away at school for so long. I always learned so much when we were together, even if we weren’t speaking much. In encouraging me to pursue the simplest things in life, she taught me about the value of family, friends, and celebration. She always spoke to me with a smile on her face, as if to reassure me that no matter what I was worried about, I was going to be alright. I will miss her smile and her wisdom forever, and carry the lessons she taught me with her for the rest of my life.
I love you Momani.
Navid
It is impossible for me to write about what my Momani truly meant to me. It’s impossible to measure the amount of love that she consistently showed me. And no matter how hard I tried to reciprocate all that she did for me, it’s impossible for me to even come close.
From our time traveling the Bazaar’s of Tehran, to our trip to the coasts of Mexico,
From our trip to Abdolreza’s wedding in Spain, to our week in the region of Tuscany,
From our day trips up to the mansion in Malibu, to our daily piyaderavis when you visited in the past,
One theme that stayed consistent no matter where we were or what we were doing was the love that you showed to Navid, Sara and I.
I remember the time we spent together in Tehran - eating aab goosht at that one restaurant, swimming every night in the pool downstairs, the fender bender we got in the taxi that one time - that was a trip I will never forget for the rest of my life.
Or our days right here in Irvine - going on walks with Roxy when we had first gotten her, making us your delicious zaboon for the very first time, teaching us how to speak and understand Farsi despite how annoying we probably were - those moments of joy can and will never be replaced in my mind.
Through it all, your smile, demeanor, and overall attitude towards life was always so positive, happy, and loving. You have taught me more than you could ever imagine, and not just about farsi.
It’s hard for me to write this because there’s so much to say and I don’t even know where to start. But one thing I do know is that you loved and cared for all of us so much, and I hope you know how much we loved and cared for you too.
Thank you for everything. Love you.
Amir
I will forever remember my Momani. Not just as my grandmother and relative, but as my friend and role model.
I’ve never met anyone that looked at life the way my Momani did.
The way she found so much excitement in the little things like walks to the park and family dinners taught me what to value in life, and the way she remained positive all throughout her life inspired me to look on the bright side of things in mine.
I don’t think I will ever be able to sum up how her presence affected me, but I am certain I will carry everything with me for the rest of my life.
I will always remember walking downstairs in the morning to see her smiling and happy to greet me when she would visit. She brightened my day when nothing else did.
I will always remember how she encouraged me to learn farsi and taught me the importance of connecting with my relatives.
I will always remember the unconditional love she showed to everyone she knew.
And I will definitely always remember how she made me smile until my cheeks hurt when she was hanging out with my other grandma at the pool in Mexico, with her stylish swim cap and bathing suit.
Momani, I am unable to put how much you meant to me into words, but I want you to know that I am forever thankful to have gotten the opportunity to know you. I would not be the person I am today without you. I love you more than you will ever know. You will be in my heart forever. Thank you for everything.
Sara
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