Lily Gabra-Mariam

November 8th 1936 – January 25th 2021

Lily née, Rosalidi was born to Abraham and Jana Rosalidi on November 8th, 1936 in Jaffa, Israel. Orphaned In 1939, she was brought to the convent of St. Vincent de Paul in Jerusalem where she remained until she was eighteen. She was raised in the convent by the French order of Soeurs de Charite.

She married Samuel Gabra-Mariam who worked at the Ethiopian Consulate in Jerusalem on August 6th, 1955. Their wedding was celebrated at the chapel of St Vincent de Paul where she was raised. Samuel passed away in 2004 a few months short of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

Samuel and Lily raised four children and were active in both the local Ethiopian Orthodox and the Catholic communities. They were both extremely generous and their home however modest was both a center and a refuge for so many in the community. On Sundays as a family, it was not unusual for them to attend masses both at the Kidane Mihrete Ethiopian Orthodox Church (Debre Genet) and the Catholic Church (Terra Sancta).

Lily and Samuel relocated from Jerusalem to Northern Virginia in 2001 to be close to family. The last twenty years of Lily’s life centered around grandchildren, and family events. Loving bonds were formed with her sons and daughters in law Chiyo, Tonya and Grum. With Mesfin, she had a unique and affectionate bond as she had known him for most of his life and lived together with him and Mimi for the last 25 years. She cherished every single member of her family and loved the entire family deeply.

As her health declined, she spent the last few years at Annandale Healthcare Centre where she built yet another community of friends. She had loving connections with the staff and residents. She enjoyed bingo (although she was not beyond cheating.) She participated in all events with joy! She looked forward to the special occasions organized by Sarah with whom she shared a special loving bond. She had a special affection and love for Husai and Alem who took loving care of her as she struggled this year when in person visits were forbidden due to COVID-19. We are in their debt, their dedication to her and others in their care is divine. We are grateful to all the staff at Annandale Healthcare Centre especially Dale, Eric, Jamal.

Please keep all our frontline workers in your prayers.

Lily contracted COVID-19 in March 2020 and survived albeit weakened by the experience. The inability to see family in person took its toll on her as she had grown accustomed to daily family visits, frequently multiple times a day. Mimi was constant in her dedication with love and care of her every need, every phone call.

Lily had a tough start in life and was therefore deeply compassionate and empathetic with other people’s suffering and those in need. She had a profound love for animals and saw special uniqueness in all of them. She spoke French, her primary language, Hebrew, Arabic and Amharic that she acquired early in her marriage. English a more recent acquisition was the source of many of her grandchildren’s memorable moments of hilarity because of her creative use of the language - she could laugh and joke in all five languages, sometimes at the same time.

Lily was admitted to Inova Fairfax January 24th and passed away on January 25th, 2021 of natural causes. She valiantly fought and held on until she was surrounded by her family as she passed on and for this miracle, we are grateful. We are also grateful to the larger miracle that manifested itself in her life and throughout her life. Despite all the adversities, trials, and tribulations that she encountered her insatiable zest for life was never abated.

Lily is survived by her children, Michael, Daniel, Misrak and Nataly. Her grandchildren, Malaika, Alexander, Leina, Merone, Mai and Yared. Her beloved sons and daughters in-law, Mesfin Zawge, Chiyo Kanda, Tonya Pendo Rosier and Grum Teklemariam.

May she Rest In Peace.