Zaro Paktiawal

Zaro Paktiawal, 77, passed away at home on December 17, 2014 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in the village of SaloKhail, in the city of Gardez, in the Paktia Province of Afghanistan on October 2, 1937; to Timurshah Khan and Bano.

Zaro married Akhtar Mohammed Paktiawal on October 21, 1962 and they began their life together. She was a stay at home mother and raised their seven children while he held many positions in Afghanistan. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Akhtar served as Head of the Delegation of Afghanistan to UNESCO General Conference held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. During the meeting, he denounced the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and stood against imposing tyranny and occupying his country. As a result, he was not allowed back into his country due to security concerns which left Zaro and their children alone in Afghanistan. However, Akhtar declared he would risk returning to Afghanistan as he would not abandon his wife and children. She was one of the bravest women; she escaped from Afghanistan at midnight on a camel with her seven children. She braved treacherous mountains and valleys to Pakistan without incident. With the help of the American government, Zaro and the children reunited with Akhtar in New York. In 1980, Akhtar was honored with a Freedom Award in Washington, DC. While living in United States, she took care of the family and made their house a home while he worked as a Soil Scientist for the City of Raleigh, North Carolina. Zaro is the epitome of great mother; she dearly loved her family and sacrificed so much always putting them first. She welcomed people into her home while greeting them with a beautiful smile, serving them a warm cup of tea and always treating them as part of her family. Zaro was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend to all.

She is preceded in death by her father, mother, one brother and three sisters. She is survived by her husband, Akhtar Mohammed; her sister, Dordana; two sons, Ahmad Farid and Toryally; five daughters, Noorya, Noorsama, Soraya, QamerSultan and Hussina; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The funeral service will be held on December 19, 2014 at 11:30 AM at Raleigh Memorial Park located at 7501 Glenwood Avenue Raleigh, N.C. 27612. Following the service, the family would like to invite friends to join in the celebration of her life; food will be served afterwards at the Afghan Community Center located at 309 North Dawson Street Raleigh, N.C. 27603. Zaro always sent money back home to help her country have a better life; therefore, in lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in her memory to Americans for Permanent Peace in Afghanistan. Please make checks payable to the APPA Foundation, 309 North Dawson Street Raleigh, N.C. 27603.