Hayat Badlissi Romanos, of Watertown, Massachusetts, passed away on November 4, 2026, surrounded by her children.
She was the beloved wife of the late John Romanos Tazbazian for 59 years; devoted mother of Selim and Kinda; and cherished grandmother of Nailah, Anthony, Maya, and Jonathan. She was a loving sister to Ibtisam Badlissi, Gloria Badlissi Dowli, Nazli Badlissi Lolo, the late Tony Badlissi, and Marah Badlissi Jabbour. She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Born in Aleppo, Syria on August 22,1943 to Wadih Badlissi and Josephine Kerio who were Syriac—originally from Mardin—Hayat was their eldest daughter, raised in Aleppo then Hassakeh, where her family managed businesses in agriculture and manufacturing. She moved to Damascus upon her marriage in 1967.
After studying French literature at the University of Damascus, she became a French teacher in the early 70s. She later served as vice principal at a prominent K-12 school in Damascus. Her students remember her as active, compassionate, strict yet respected, and loved.
She moved permanently to the US upon her retirement in the late 1990s and resided in Watertown since 1999. She played an instrumental role in raising her grandchildren, notably teaching them Arabic and French, while embodying a life of strong faith, deep prayer, and devotion to family. She was a dedicated faithful, preparing bread for liturgy and organizing prayer groups.
A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church, 200 Lexington Street(https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+Lexington+Street?entry=gmail&source=g), Belmont at 10:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., immediately prior to the funeral Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church. The burial will take place at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Watertown.