As early as I can remember I LOVED going to Teta’s house. You walk into the kitchen from the driveway and there was always a “tubkhah” on the stove. Maybe Koosah Mahshie, or warrak dawali or perhaps something she’s just baked, spinach pies or menaeesh! My favorite were her spheeha’ (meat pies). We could of just eaten at home, but would act starved for Teta’s cooking. My mother of-course annoyed at us and embarrassed in front of her mother “your grandmother is going to think I don’t feed you at home?!!” Yes, food was Teta’s love language! And boy did she love us. Conversations would center around food of-course “what do you cook in NY? How much do you walk in a day? Do  you have a farmers market? I know you love salad, how have you been making it?” She knew I loved to cook and would always ask about that and my FULL life. She wanted to know it all. Yes, Teta was at times private and modest, but she didn’t stray away from hard conversation. She was fully accepting of me when I came out. She put NO Conditions on her love towards me. She had a great capacity for learning about things she knew nothing about. She was always so supportive of my fashion career, didn’t understand why I design things “so simple or unembellished” but she was sooo supportive. Wanted to know every detail. She would ask about the newest trend or the hottest seasonal color, she was curious and had a thirst for knowledge. My grandmother gave me the best gift of all and that is to see me fully. That’s love. Accepting someone and loving them unconditionally. That’s what I will take forward from her. We will all miss you Teta, you’re forever in our hearts. 

Some people wear their heart on their sleeve but my beloved Teta was not one of them. Instead, she shared her heart through food and cooking and our lives were so deeply enriched because of it.  My favorite memories with her are the more recent ones, where I grew such an admiration for her strength, stubbornness, and wisdom. She was sharp as a whip and unapologetic in her honesty and I loved that about her. She loved our silly nightly routine of watching the news, wheel of fortune, and then jeopardy. Seeing her from across the room doing a word search as we all relaxed for the night always made me smile. She was so smart and quick to learn. She was also someone I was able to share my love of plants with (although she’d always give me a hard time about how much money I spent on them). She brought out the best in my mom and seeing the two of them cook together has given me so many memories I will always cherish. Even with a language barrier, I could always feel my Teta’s love and we shared a connection and understanding you can only have with family you hold so close to your heart. I miss her terribly already but find comfort knowing she is in a much better place and finally at peace. I love you always, Teta. 

My Aunt Arkad, was a loving women who only wanted the best for her family.  She showed her love to the family with her cooking.  Food was way to show the family that she cared about them and wanted only the best for them.  I remember going to her house on Westcott, and would always leaving  feeling so full.  May God rest her soul and her memory be eternal.  She will be missed dearly!!

Teta, where do I even begin.  I’m absolutely devastated that your gone and I’m not sure how we will go on without you.  You were an amazing Teta and even more amazing great Teta to Gabriella.  We both miss you so much.  Thank you for loving my daughter and treating her like a princess.  We will never forget you and will think of you often.  You have made a huge impact on Gabriella that she will carry for a lifetime.  I pray you have been reunited with mama.  You are forever  in our hearts. 

The memories I treasure the most about my Teta almost entirely revolve around food and my culture. Having grown up in Alaska, so far away from relatives and anyone else like me, I would sometimes feel isolated from half of who I am. My solution was always Teta. The food that my mom would cook for me, the food that she grew up eating, were always recipes from Teta and the aroma would remind me of the visits to her and family. Those visits to Teta were also very important. Those were the times I learned how to do things like pick and stuff grape leaves as well as learn about a large part of how Teta would show her love. Food. It may sound silly or unoriginal to say, but I truly believe that every time Teta cooked something for anyone, there was a little piece of her heart in it. Knowing that, I know she gave me enough of her heart and love for multiple lifetimes. And if I ever forgot that, there were always small care packages in the mail from her with food and love to remind me. Arkad Tadros was not only my lifeline to my culture and ancestry, but to knowing what it's like to have a Teta who truly loved him.

My fondest memory of my mom is taking her every week to the farmer’s market. It would amaze me with her broken English haggling with the vendors for a bargain and she always ended up getting a discount or a lower price. She was one of a kind, I’m going to miss you mom so much!!!

My Teta wasn’t your average grandmother. She was kind, fearless, fierce, smart, opinionated, stubborn and most importantly one of the strongest people I knew. I have fond memories of spending my summers stranded at Teta’s island as we used to call it. Little did I know that spending those summers there I would learn so much about cooking and my Arab heritage. Cooking was one of her many passions. She would never complain about whipping up a dish I requested. I vividly remember when I would visit her when I first moved to NY she without fail always had rice and hummus(chickpeas) ready for me since she knew it was my favorite. Some of the best memories I have with her were when she taught me how to cook, bake and search for the best deals/coupon while grocery shopping. I’m convinced she’s the reason I love coupons/sales so much. Even though it used to annoy me, I’ll never forget the many times she would tell me in Arabic that I don’t need anymore tattoos. She wasn't one for taking photos, but always did it to make me happy. She always tried to convince me to move back to FL, and told me I would be a great mom one day since I was so good at taking care of others. I used to love to watch the Arabic cooking shows with her to learn new things. Even as she got worse she still made sure to make my favorite food when I visited this past August. She wasn’t one for emotions, but you always felt her love. I hope you finally get to Rest In Peace knowing your memory will live in us forever. Love you always, Teta. ♥️

I loved going to the Tadros home on Westcott Street to be with the family. I especially enjoyed talking with Nouha’s mom and dad. Although he did most of the talking, I could sense the bond of love between them. He LOVED her cooking! She LOVED cooking for him. I’m so honored to have been able to spend time with her and Nouha while we prepared stuffed grape leaves that had been harvested at the first budding of the leaves in the spring. I always joked around to get her to smile because she was so quiet. She was a woman of beauty that ran through her being and radiated out in all she did. She and your dad raised a loving, hardworking family. I’m so glad you immigrated to America as it gave me an opportunity to learn so much about your culture. She lived  a full life as she was loved by all  who she came in contact with her. In love, gratitude and heartfelt sympathy, Brenda Susor 

I will always remember Aunt Arkad for her devotion to me since my childhood. She always loved me from afar and from nearby once we were reunited in the USA. Having her in my life made me forget that my mother was no longer with us.  She was a very private person but I always felt surrounded by her love. I will miss her tremendously and will always cherish the last two and a half years she spent living with us.  We were able to renew our relationship on a different level, she was now also my friend.

OBITUARY

Arkad Tadros

January 9, 1930 – December 27, 2020

Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home

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