Our beloved Taj, wife of Syed Misbahuddin, mother to Roohi, Shabina, Nahid, Nazim (Vanessa), grandmother to Cameron, Jayden, Elianna and Tess, passed away peacefully on her birthday Oct 24, 2024, surrounded by family and close friends.
Taj immigrated to Ottawa, Canada from Bangalore, India as a young bride in 1965. Amongst the first immigrants to Ottawa of South Asian descent, Taj was a pioneer in laying down community roots and was a member of several culturally diverse communities whom she uniquely brought together at her famous dinner parties. She supported her husband's efforts to build the first Ottawa Mosque, travelled with him to world scientific conferences, and devoted herself to raising four children whom she encouraged in studies, music lessons and sports. She studied at the University of Ottawa, was President of the Ottawa Muslim Women’s Auxiliary, a Girl Guides of Canada leader, a Welcome Wagon Hostess, a volunteer at Seniors’ homes, and a recipient of an Ontario Award for Excellence in Community Services.
She loved people, had a gorgeous smile, a gentle voice, had a pure, charitable and kind heart, often did random acts of kindness and easily made hundreds of friends from every background. She was a nature lover and enjoyed family picnics, camping, long walks through Rothwell, by the Ottawa River or Dow's Lake, and was involved in a mutually meaningful way with her neighbors. She was an honorable daughter, loving sister, and cherished cousin to her family in India and other parts of the world with whom she kept in touch. She was also a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and was adored by all. Taj had youthful, sincere and fun-fun-loving qualities, was relentlessly optimistic, and determined right up to her last breath to live for her family. She always found ways to crack a joke and laugh at even the most difficult of situations.
Taj was laid to rest at the Beechwood Cemetery on Oct. 28, 2024. Her legacy will be continued by her children whom she taught to be helpful, to make a difference in Canadian Society and to make a positive impact on the lives of others. She will be greatly missed.
The family kindly requests in lieu of flowers, to make donations in Taj’s name to: Any Foodbank of your choice or May Court Hospice on Cameron Avenue, Ottawa or to a Canadian diabetes organization.