Bosayna “Bissa” Tadros Abdelmalek, 82, returned to her heavenly father on January 8^th, 2017.

Bissa was born to the late Tadros Abdelmalek and Nagia Shihata on July 13^th, 1934 in Sohag, Egypt. Shortly after she was born, her family moved to Alexandria, Egypt where she grew up with her sisters Flora, Venis, Viola and brothers Farouk, Fayek, Fawzy, and Victor. She graduated from college in 1956 with a degree in English and began teaching middle school English shortly after. Bissa loved teaching English and grew up writing, reading and learning about the English culture.

On September 8^th, 1957, Bissa married the love of her life, Farouk Helmy Rezkalla and enjoyed a long marriage of 60 years. In September 1958, they welcomed their first born son, Nader. After Nader, her second-oldest son, Rafik, was born in July 1963 followed by the final son, Nabil, in June 1966. Finally, 9 years after the birth of her firstborn, Bissa and Farouk gained a blessing in the birth of their only daughter, Magda, in October 1967. On top of raising four children, Bissa also served as the Assistant Principal to the local middle school in Alexandria.

After seven years of preparing immigration paperwork for the family, Bissa moved to America with her children Rafik and Magda, and was soon joined by Farouk, Nader, and Nabil in 1982. She spent her first few years in America working for a manufacturing company and then started her own alteration shop in 1990 until retiring in the early 2000’s.

She was loved by her daughters and son-in-law Claire (Nader), Emily (Nabil), and Sherif (Magda). Bissa loved her 10 grandchildren more than anything else in the world – Andrew, Matthew, Antonious, Christopher, Steven, Joseph, Immanuel, Isaac, Michael, and Monica.

Bissa was blessed with 15 nieces and nephews – Dahlia Sirilla; Baher Malek; Manal, Nagla, Mark and Lillian Abdelmalek; Ameer, Raymond, and Tadros “Teddy” Abdelmalek; Ashraf and Lillian Isaac Azer; Alex and Phoebe Khalil; and Tamer and Samer Abdelmalek.

Bissa lived a full life, accomplished numerous goals, loved sacrificially, lived with honor and pride, and spread her love and care graciously. Even during her hardest day, Bissa was known by always expressing her thankfulness, grace, and passion towards Christ. Bissa demonstrated the love of Christ and the definition of family. Towards the later years in her life, Bissa gained a new daughter who loved her and cared for her as if she were her own mother, Sameh Armanious.

Bissa, your love and memories will live on forever. You will be missed by so many.