Widad Bakkal

Widad (Atmaj) Bakkal of Worcester, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren on Tuesday October 21, 2014 at the age of 81. Widad was born in Aleppo, Syria on November 5, 1932 to AbdulJaleel Atmaj and Zakia Kaas. She married Abdulnour Bakkal in 1952 in Syria; together they lived happily until he preceded her into eternal rest in 1981. In 1988, Widad left Syria and moved to Massachusetts. She enjoyed working for a time at American Optical in Southbridge and taking English lessons at the local library. Widad will be remembered by her children as a kind, gentle and patient mother who encouraged them to pursue their dreams. She was a passionate and faithful Christian who loved her Church, St Mary's Assyrian Orthodox Church in Shrewsbury. Widad is survived by her son, Peter Bakkal and his wife Majda Youhanoun; her daughters, Shamiram and her husband Showkat Naoum; Ogareet and her late husband Ninos Aho (deceased); Georgette and her husband Gabriel Hinjer; Rima and her husband John Abraham; Maria and her husband Abraham Burshan; and her sister Emeline Atmaj. She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Abdulnour Bakkal, Matthew Bakkal, Widad Bakkal, Meryam Saliiby, Romrama Khalbourji, Zalgai Aho, Enleil Aho, Abrahim Hinjer, Donna Hinjer, Emmanuel Hinjer, Matthew Abraham, Sarah Abraham, Miryam Burshan, Nicole Burshan and Naya Burshan; her great-grandchildren: Albert Khalbourji, Marc Antony Khalbourji, Lillian Saliiby and Jiselle Saliiby. Besides her husband Abdulnour Bakkal; Widad was pre deceased by her husband Abdulnour Bakkal, her sisters Najiba Atmaj and Henriette Atmaj, her brother Najib Atmaj, her grandson Delmon Aho and her nephew George Adamo. Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours, Thursday, October 23, 2014 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation Street in Worcester, MA 01605. Her funeral service will be held Friday, October 24, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 440 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church, 1 Industrial Drive, Shrewsbury, MA. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Widad's life.