Ebtisam A. Habek

Ebtisam was a woman of remarkable strength—fiercely independent, driven, adventurous, and blessed with a sharp wit. She lived life on her own terms and, in every sense, did it her way.

Born the oldest of five children, Ebtisam shared a deep and enduring love for her parents and family. Her adventurous spirit eventually carried her far beyond Egypt. She immigrated to the United States in 1973 and built a life defined by determination, intelligence, independence, and courage.

Ebtisam earned her Master’s degree in Library Science and built a career doing what she loved. Throughout her life, she held positions as a librarian at Princeton University and the National Security Agency and managed libraries in Germany, Japan, and at the DMZ. Her career reflected both her love of knowledge and her remarkable ability to forge her own path wherever life took her.

Throughout her life, Ebtisam was sustained by a deep and abiding faith in God. Her relationship with Christ was an important part of who she was and a source of strength throughout her life. Her faith carried her through life’s challenges and gave her comfort, purpose, and resilience. She trusted in God while continuing to face the world with the same strength and determination that defined her.

Ebtisam is survived by her loving husband, Boutros Habek, and her three children: Cherine Spagnolo and her husband, Bob, and their children, Noah and Ellianna; Sally Attia and her children, Jonah, Peter, and Amelia; and Mina Habek and his wife, Nermine, and their children, Andrew and Benjamin.

She will be remembered as a God-fearing, intelligent, witty, independent, and adventurous woman who left an unmistakable mark on everyone who knew and loved her. She made her own choices, traveled her own road, and lived her life with a spirit that could not be easily contained.

Her family takes solace in knowing that the woman they loved so deeply will live on in the stories they share, the lessons she taught, and the strength she passed down through generations.

Ebtisam will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Her strength, her wit, her independence, her faith, and her remarkable spirit will remain a part of the legacy she leaves behind.

Her funeral service and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital www.stjude.org/donate