Laila Zaki Ibrahim Redman

Laila's journey began within the walls of her home in Jaffa, Palestine, where she was the eldest among seven siblings. She attended the Christian Mission School in Jaffa, starting her education in English at an early age. Laila cherished her early years, especially the times spent by the seashore and in the orange groves of Jaffa, as well as the summers at their country farm in Aboud village.

In 1948, at the age of 12, Laila and her family became refugees due to the Israeli occupation, enduring a harrowing journey to safety amidst bombings and gunfire. They settled in Aboud village in the West Bank, where they rebuilt their lives, relying on farming olives and other crops for sustenance. Laila, being the oldest girl, shouldered responsibilities, caring for her siblings and contributing to the household.

After a year of displacement, Laila left the village to pursue her education, living with her aunt, Aunty Wardeh, in Amman, Jordan. There, she attended school and eventually moved to Kuwait with her Aunt continuing her studies and working for the Kuwaiti government.

In 1956, at the age of 21, Laila, along with her brother Ghazi and Aunty Wardeh, emigrated to the United States through sponsorship by Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston. Their relentless work ethic swiftly secured them jobs at Massachusetts General Hospital. Laila advanced in the Respiratory Therapy Department, showcasing her dedication and capabilities.

On December 2, 1962, Laila met her beloved husband, Michael John Redman, “MJ” and they were married on June 23, 1963. Laila's devotion extended beyond her family, supporting her siblings, and excelling in her career as a pulmonary technologist.

The Redman family's journey led them to various states, but Laila's dedication to her family, her culinary talents, and her love for learning remained constant. In 2000, Laila and Michael retired and settled in Houston, close to their children and grandchildren.

Laila's love knew no bounds—she was a giving and caring wife for 61 years, a nurturing mother, and a devoted grandmother. Her passion for cooking, creativity in various crafts, and her unyielding support for her family and friends defined her. Laila's legacy lives on through her family, her loving husband Michael, her children Jennifer and Ramsey, her cherished grandchildren Alexandra, Claudia, Andrew, and William, and her siblings and extended family across the United States and the Middle East.

May her soul rest in eternal peace.

-----

Written by Dad

Laila Zaki Redman was my wife for sixty-one incredible years. She was the love of my life. Our journey together couldn’t have been any better. Laila was a saintly woman—gentle, kind, and patient. She rarely raised her voice and never had a bad word to say about anyone.

We first met at Arlington church in Boston. They had a Sunday evening club for singles. I was immediately drawn to her; she wore a green woolen dress and had the most beautiful eyes. We shared the same views on what was happening in the Middle East, which deepened our connection.

When Laila returned home that evening, her aunt asked if she had met anyone. She replied, "Yes, an Englishman." Her aunt, who had always hoped Laila would find an Englishman, was delighted. The next day, Laila handed me a note. It read, "I am really 27, not 26. I hope you are not upset with me; I was afraid you might not want to date me if I was older than you. I told her it made no difference—I was so lucky to have found her.

When Laila agreed to marry me, she also agreed to move back to England with me. However, as her family began immigrating to the United States, we decided it was better for us to stay and support them. Together, we sponsored her brothers and sisters to come to the U.S., helping them start new lives here.

Laila had many talents and took care of me completely. She did most of the cooking until we got older, at which point I became her assistant chef. We traveled all over the world, finding joy in raising our children and grandchildren together.

----

Written by Jennifer

Welcome- hello, I am Jennifer, and I had the privilege to be Laila’s Redman’s daughter. Thank you all for coming today to celebrate my mother’s life with us.

Before I get started celebrating my beautiful mother, I need to give special thanks.

In heartfelt gratitude, I extend my deepest thanks to two remarkable caretakers, Carolina Estrada and Silvia Guzman, who tirelessly cared for my mother over the past six years. Especially the time through COVID. Their unwavering dedication and love for my mother were beyond measure, putting my mother's needs above their own. In the past my mother often expressed her wish for four children, and in Carolina and Silvia, I believe she found them—daughters in heart and soul. They provided impeccable care for my mother every day of the year, ensuring her comfort and dignity during her final days.

Thanks to my father, for being an extraordinary and supportive husband and father for over sixty years. One of the sweetest things I remember about my parents is how they always called each other dear of darling and would kiss each other when they got home from work.

To my amazing brother, Ramsey – I couldn’t have gotten through this journey without him. Having him as my sibling made all the difference. His unwavering love for our parents provided a source of strength during the hardest moments. Every time we visited our parents on the weekends and signed in at the front desk of their assisted living facility, the staff would always say, "Here comes the dynamic duo. I believe that is what we are. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my sister-in-law, Kathryn, for the support and strength she gave us during this time. My mother loved you deeply and cherished the bond you shared.

To my loving husband John, and my two beautiful daughters, thank you for being pillars of strength, enabling me to care for my mother during her long journey.

Acknowledgment is due to my mother's two devoted sisters who I grew up with and have been supported by, as well as her brothers who, along with my mother, fostered a strong family bond, guiding the entire family towards success and happiness.

Finally, I want to express gratitude to all my amazing cousins who are like siblings to us and always there to support, to my friends, and coworkers who stood by me offering their love and support during this challenging time.

The best way to describe my mom is a true “giver”

What is a giver -A person who is a prioritizes the needs and well-being of others above their own. They unselfishly offer their time, resources, and support without expecting anything in return. This person is empathetic, compassionate, and finds fulfillment in helping others, often putting others' happiness and comfort before their own.

Their generosity comes from a genuine place of caring and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of those around them.

That is exactly what she did – She made a positive impact on many people’s lives and this brought her genuine happiness.

Love, the essence of my mother, embodies patience, kindness, humility, and endurance. Even though my mother was 5’1 maybe 5’2” inches tall she stood as a beacon of wisdom, always subtle and gentle in her guidance, offering insights on life's roles and relationships. This really became important after I got married and later had children.

Top 10 take aways

1. If there is a will there is a way

2. Actions speak louder than words

3. Not everything needs to be said

4. Pick your battles - don’t sweat the small stuff- you will only make a bigger mess than when you started.

5. Think before you speak - be thoughtful in your words and actions AND most importantly-Timing is Everything.

6. Be patient

7. Life is not fair- we have different roles and responsibilities that change with time, do what needs to be done and keep moving forward

8. Listen

9. Moderation is the key

10. Don’t miss opportunities that present themselves - this was a big one. When an opportunity comes your way take it, even though you might feel uncomfortable about doing it.

My mom never talked about how her journey as a child or young adult as far as how much her family endured after losing their home, she never said you have it easy… when I was a child, I had to do… I learned most of what she went through as a young adult. I think that was because she wanted to protect us from the hardships she faced, allowing my brother and I to have a childhood without the weight of her struggles.

My brother and I enjoyed a happy childhood. We were always doing something with the family, neighbors, scouts, and organized sports. I think my brother and I participated in every sport expect football. We rode bikes everywhere, became lifeguards, and excelled in high school sports. Ironically My mom never had the opportunity to really learn to swim well or ride a bike. I did try to teach her as an adult to swim and ice skate, but we did not get very far. We couldn’t get the floating down and were not able to get off the boards of the rink, but we laughed a lot.

Education was incredibly important to my mother, largely inspired by her aunt, who attended Burzeit University in Palestine and worked in the British courts. After immigrating to the United States, she worked at Massachusetts General Hospital as a pulmonary technologist in the respiratory therapy department while taking night classes at Boston University. She always reminded me, "The one thing , no one can take from you, is your education. My mother loved her profession, she enjoyed being in the hospital and helping patients. One of the most impactful things that affected me when I was a kid was when she took me into the lab and showed me framed cross sections of a smoker’s lung and a nonsmoker’s lung as well as telling us stories about patients with various lung diseases. I also saw her working in action with her patients and was always impressed with how she got the best out of them. Needless to say, we were a smoke-free family, which was unusual during the 70’s and 80’s.

My mom encouraged my brother and I to explore our interests while gently suggesting paths that might suit us. I decided that I wanted to be a physical therapist when I was 16. This was very much influenced by my mom since I used to go to work with her and volunteer at the hospital. Obviously, my favorite place was the therapy department.

My mother's remarkable work ethic was her most admirable quality. Work, in all its forms, was an opportunity to better oneself, never viewed as a burden. She effortlessly balanced household chores, her job, and raising us, all while keeping a spotless and organized home and having dinner on the table every night. Her talents ranged from cooking, cross stitch, sewing knitting landscaping and gardening. (Please see items on the table in the lobby) She really did not sit still.

Her love for cooking was probably her number one talent. She was remarkable at having the most amazing tasting food that was healthy for you. Her food was always delicious, and she frequently cooked all different types of dishes from all over the world. Food was her love language. She loved to prepare food and feed people. When I started dating John, he was a collage swimmer. If you know anything about a young college athlete, they can eat. When he came over for dinner for the first time, let’s just say it was a match made in heaven. I’m not sure what the dish was but I remember mom sitting next to him and when he finished everything on his plate, she filled it back up, and he just kept on eating. Nowadays John cooks for me and remembers the techniques my mom taught him. Coincidently, my mom and John have the same birthday.

When our kids were young, we went over to the house for dinner sometimes during the week and every Sunday. As the kids got older and got involved in sports and needing to complete homework we stopped going over as frequently. She completely understood, so she would pack the family meals “to go” and she always added extra; so, we would not have to prepare as many meals during the week. During the kids’ parties or their school celebrations, she frequently brought tabouleh, humus and her famous chocolate chip cookies for everyone to enjoy, it was always a big hit.

My mom had a love for nature and a knack for making things grow, with a green thumb that seemed almost magical. This is something in the family blood. She frequently took a piece of a plant (shrub, tree) root it and grow it in her garden. In South Carolina her garden was always bursting with flowers, vegetables, and all sorts of plants. She always had things blooming throughout the year depending on the season.

In our South Carolina garden she built a stone wall and stairs on the side of the house with a multitude of greenery and flowering plants around it.

My parents' decision to move to Houston and become full-time grandparents deeply impacted our lives. Their unwavering support, love, and care for our children shaped our success. Though my mother's time with her grandchildren was cut short, with her illness starting almost 10 years ago, her love and influence on them will endure.

Alexandra her oldest grandchild is in her fourth year of medical school

Claudia completed her master’s degree in marketing December 2023

Andrew is a junior at A&M University and pursuing a civil engineering degree

William is a junior high school with many university options in the future.

In honoring her heritage, I am wearing a thobe—a symbol of my mother's birthplace, Palestine. When she was younger, she was a member of the American Arabic Association and she would frequently participate in Multicultural festivals, wearing this thobe and bringing food allowing her to share her culture and educate others. Unfortunately my mother did not see peace in Palestine in her lifetime, I am praying that will be different for all of us.

She had these notes with the dress. This dress is a linen cotton blend loosely woven to make it easier to count threads. The fabric was woven in Gaza, Ramallah, Nazareth and Hebron. The embroidery threads that were used until 1930 were naturally died and manufactured in Syria. Among the original dyes were blue, red and yellow. Blue from the indigo plant, red from roots of plants and yellow from a special soil. The most popular dye colors were different shades of red. After 1930 most thread was imported from Europe.

My mother's journey, despite its challenges, was a testament to a good and honorable life. She found fulfillment in every decade she lived. I remember asking her would you go back to a specific decade, and she said no, she has enjoyed each one differently and would not go back.

As my mother finds peace, I am profoundly grateful for the privilege of being her daughter. Her love and teachings will forever shape our lives.

---

Written by Granddaughters

Hello, everyone. We are Alexandra and Claudia, Laila’s granddaughters.

We want to begin by sharing some cherished memories we have with her. As children, we would walk home to our grandparents' house every day after school. One of our most vivid memories is sitting at the kitchen table, eagerly enjoying hummus, tabbouleh, and more cookies than we could count as our after-school 'snack.' The TV was usually tuned to Jeopardy, with our granddad and us watching together. But as we look back now, we realize that our grandmother was never sitting still. She was always busy—whether it was preparing those snacks, bringing us water or juice, checking on her garden, sewing in her office, or doing laundry. Our grandmother lived to care for others. That was her essence. Many of us, ourselves included, can only aspire to be half the woman she was—dedicated, selfless, and always putting others' needs before her own.

Our grandmother was a beacon of light in our lives. Every memory we have of her is filled with warmth and her radiant smile. She taught us so much—how to prepare traditional Arabic meals, how to live with humility, and even, in her final days, how to face life’s greatest challenges with grace. She showed us that life isn’t about how long we can hold on, but about the quality of the time we have. Thanks to the extraordinary care she received from Silvia, Carolina, our mom, and our uncle, she was able to stay by our grandfather’s side until the very end. She didn’t spend her final months in and out of hospitals because, quite honestly, the care she received at home was far beyond what any hospital could provide.

We want to close with one last memory. When we were younger, our parents were going on vacation, which meant we got to stay at our grandparents' house for a few days. We still remember those days vividly because we were treated like royalty. Our parents always made sure we were well cared for, but this was different. Our grandmother laid out our clothes, helped us get dressed, and made sure our hair was done—she was attentive to every little detail. But the best part was breakfast—chocolate chip cornbread pancakes, our favorite. She would wake up early to ensure everything was ready in time for us to enjoy before school. As children, we didn’t fully appreciate these small acts of love because that was just who our Teta was. It felt natural, almost expected. But looking back now, we realize how truly special she was. Our Teta was one of the most selfless, hardworking people we’ve ever known, and we are so incredibly lucky to have had her as our grandmother.

We miss her dearly, but her spirit lives on in all of us. She left behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering strength. We will carry her lessons with us forever and honor her memory by striving to live with the same selflessness and grace she exemplified every day of her life.