Leyla Anna Drea

Leyla Irandokht Drea (née Leyla Anna Sharif), 93, passed away Friday, June 24, 2022, in Vista, CA. She was an elegant, well-educated, reserved woman, who led an extraordinary life. Of mixed Iranian, Turkish, and Hungarian heritage, she was born in Budapest to Serfedine Sharif and Stephanie (Bela) Sharif, and lived there through both happy and dark times, until post WW2, when her family sought refuge in Tehran, Iran. Having learned English as her sixth language, she gained employment with USAID, where she met her husband-to-be, Dr. John Drea, Jr., an American research entomologist of Irish descent. After the birth of their son, the extended family moved, in rapid succession, first to Rabat, Morocco – where Leyla birthed two daughters – then to Paris, France, then to Cinnaminson, New Jersey. The immediate family returned, long-term, to Paris, where Leyla thrived. She relished the arts, history, culture, and international cuisine as much as camping, field trips, and the family menagerie. Returning stateside to Beltsville, Maryland, brought Leyla closer to her beloved sister, Sabihe, and a final move to Oceanside, California, allowed Jack and Leyla to spend their retirement years with their grandchildren. Their love of children and animals was heartily reciprocated, and their passion for travel was shared and enjoyed during their 61 years of marriage. Leyla was exceptionally beautiful, artistically talented, kind hearted, and authentically distinguished. She will be profoundly missed.

She is survived by her son Peter Drea, her daughters Kathy (Drea) Gordon and Christine Drea, and her grandchildren Colin Drea, Nicholas Gordon, and Stephanie Gordon.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 14, 2022, at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054, with Father Rinaldi officiating. Her final resting place will be in Woodland Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Leyla can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or any other charity.