Martha Musa Issa

Martha Musa Issa was born in Jerusalem, Palestine on June 5, 1935, to Musa and Warda Issa. She was the third in a line of six children. Obedient and respectful, Martha sought to emulate the scholarly and spiritual examples that were set by her older siblings Abraham and Emily. Martha adored babies, and she was a doting sister to her younger siblings Suad, George, and John. Much like her namesake in the bible, Martha was devoted to Christ. Martha read the bible each night before bed, a habit that continued throughout her life. She was an extraordinarily faithful child, and she eagerly attended church every Sunday at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The family moved to Bethlehem in 1945, and Christmas season at the Church of the Nativity fast became Martha’s favorite time of year. She acquired a lifelong affinity for the festive color “Christmas Red” that adorned the Church in celebration of Christ’s birth. Vivacious and quick to smile, Martha attended Catholic Girls’ School in Bethlehem, where she made many friends. Graceful and agile, she cultivated a passion for music and dance, and she received numerous awards for ballroom dancing in her youth. As a young adult, Martha moved with her family to Damascus. She was awestruck by the beauty and grandeur of the old city, and she made an abundance of happy memories there. Some of her fondest were of her weekend trips to the Tivoli Gardens Café along the enchanting Barada River with her sisters and brothers, her kindhearted father Musa, and her gracious Uncle Elias. In 1968, Martha moved with her parents and siblings to the United States. She resided at the family home on Edgemont Street in Los Angeles until her final days, where she delighted in every new life that came through the door, human and animal alike.

Martha passed on August 30, 2023, after a 3-months long illness. She is survived by her sister and best friend Suad; brother George and his wife Elizabeth; niece Katrina and her husband Sean; nephews John Joseph and Murad & Murad’s wife Penelope; grand-nephews John Joseph George and George Gabriel; and her very naughty but very beloved cat, Noshi. 😊

A funeral service for Martha will be held Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Ephraim Syriac Orthodox Cathedral, 900 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, 10621 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.piercebrothersvalhallamortuary.com for the Issa family.