Nelle (Salhaney) Bezreh of West Roxbury passed away peacefully in her home on November 28, 2011. She was 92 years old.
Like so many members of the Arab-American community, Nelle was born on Hudson Street in Boston, and grew up in a large family headed by a beautiful, strong woman, Emma Salhaney. Nelle had two sisters and two brothers, and she shared a close loving relationship with them all throughout her life. She married Gabriel Bezreh, a handsome, fun-loving guy, and was welcomed into the Bezreh family by all his wonderful siblings and their spouses, with whom she would also share close, loving relationships.
But it was probably not until Nelle became a mother that she would truly understand why she was put here on Earth. She was an amazing mother: nurturing, supportive, and deeply loving. To us, her children, Anita and Paul, through all the decades of her life, she was teacher, helper, comforter, and friend; her loving and giving knew no limits. And when her children got married, Anita to Philip and Paul to Ellice, she welcomed another son and another daughter into her loving arms along with two new wonderful families whom she adored.
Nelle was a devoted mother who worked round the clock so her children could have a better life. As her mother before her, she recognized that the key to this better life was education; she was the first child in her family to graduate high school, and later, as our mother, she sat with us and helped us and taught us how to learn. This is a gift we will always treasure.
For her daughter Anita, it was sometimes uncomfortable to see her bound by the social and cultural restrictions of her generation, but she quietly championed Anita’s generation’s newfound freedoms, and we’re pretty sure Anita made a women’s libber out of her in the end.
Nelle and Gaby worked very hard to buy their little house in West Roxbury. But it was more than just a house - it was a home filled with warmth and love and so many good times with family and friends, including the most wonderful neighbors whom mom truly adored. In particular, as she got older, Jack and Duane and Remo and Silva were always there to help her, day or night. And we would be remiss if we did not mention Maria, her caregiver and constant companion throughout the last several difficult months. Often during her illness, mom would reach out her hand to Maria and smile and say, “I love you”. She also had such a quick wit and continued to joke around with everyone, even in the most difficult of times. We are so happy and thankful that mom was able to live out her life in the comfort of her home surrounded by people she loved.
One of mom’s favorite things was her sewing machine. It was here that she not only worked endless hours to help support the family, but also created the most beautiful little outfits for her children and grandchildren.
Mom also enjoyed cooking and travelling. She would deliver bags full of Syrian food almost weekly in addition to hosting many wonderful meals at her home in West Roxbury. And she had lots of fun traveling with her family. Two of her favorite places were Bermuda, where she shared many good times with good friends, and the Cape, where she played in the water exuberantly for hours with her grandchildren.
Another thing mom loved were the casinos at Foxwoods and Atlantic City. Who could ever have imagined that this sweet, gentle, demure mother and grandmother could transform herself into a proud slot machine enthusiast! We remember many times our requests to go to a movie or go shopping would be met with lukewarm reception, but ask her “Would you like to go to Foxwoods?” and a huge smile would flash on her face as she almost ran to the car.
Perhaps more than anything else, our mom enjoyed and cherished her special role as grandmother. She adored her two grandsons Christopher and Allan more than words could possibly express. They re-opened worlds of joy to her and she shared her unbounded love with them, not to mention countless field trips to Toys r Us.
In the end, the value of a person’s life can really only be measured by the lives she touches. mom’s eyes had a kind, loving way of looking at people that warmed them up instantly; she loved and was loved by so many dear friends and family members. She can rest assured that her life was truly worthy, and though she will be deeply missed, she will never be forgotten.
Good Bye for now, mom. Be well. Be happy. We love you.
Nelle was the dear and devoted wife of the late Gabriel Bezreh. Beloved mother of Anita Mabardy and her husband Phil of Needham, Paul Bezreh of Sherborn and his late wife Georgia Ellice. Loving grandmother of Christopher Mabardy and his wife Sarah, and Allan Mabardy. Great grandmother of Jonathan and Daniel Mabardy. Dear sister Joseph Salhaney of FL, and the late George Salhaney, Josephine Coco, and Mary Grasso. Also survived by several loving nieces & nephews.
Nelle's Funeral Service was held Wednesday Nov. 30, 2011 at the Kfoury Keefe Funeral Home.
Interment Fairview Cemetery.