Our beloved Taj, wife of Syed Misbahuddin Ahmed, mother to Roohi, Shabina, Naheed, 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 earliest significant wave of immigrants to Ottawa of South Asian descent, Taj was fluent in Urdu, Hindi, Kannada and English. Taj loved Canada. She brought culturally diverse communities together, supported her husband's efforts to build the first Ottawa Mosque, traveled 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, entertaining with delicious cooking and was involved in a mutually meaningful way with her neighbors. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and cousin to her family in India and other parts of the world with whom she kept in touch. Taj had youthful, sincere and fun-loving qualities, was relentlessly optimistic, and determined right up to her last breath to live for her family. She had a unique sense of humor and ability to laugh and make others laugh.
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 food bank of your choice or May Court Hospice on Cameron Avenue, Ottawa or to a Canadian diabetes organization.
Digital Guestbook
Lubna shariff
Rukhsana quraishi
Just now I came to know about Taj and shocked to hear
Very nice person although we have met only few times but her personality came over
May Allah bless her with high muqaam in heaven and sabar to all of you
Rukhsana london
Samia Sheikh
Asa. Just wanted to say how sorry I was to hear of Aunty Taj’s passing. It’s been a long time, but I always remembered her to be a very kind, and loving person. May Allah swt grant her a place in Jannah and give you all sabr. Ameen.
aamna and naz ashrag
so sorry to hear this… we will visit soon. what an amazing person .. so dear to us. lots of love
Niraj Srivastava
Deeply distressed to learn of the passing away of Mrs Taj Ahmed, whom we got to know during my posting in Ottawa almost 20 years ago. She was our friend Roohi's mother. She invited us to meals at her home and we got to know her during those visits. She was very kind, gentle and warm. She became my Facebook friend and we stayed in touch after I left Ottawa in 2007. Her untimely passing away is a personal loss. Heartfelt condolences to Dr Ahmed, Roohi and other members of her family. Beyond this, I don't know what to say. May her soul rest in peace.
S.K. Varshney
I never had a chance to interact with the departed soul, but I could feel you through your daughter Roohi with whom I interacted while nurturing India Canada scientific partnership.
Mothers are Goddess on earth. They understand children desires, expectations, even without their saying. They help children to face struggles and guide them how to come out, and she is the happiest person on earth when her child tastes success, howsoever small or big one. She prepares her children to be strong enough to face the music of the world by themselves.
She may not be in the physical world, but she will remain in hearts of all those who knew her directly or through family.
Our deepest condolences.
Peter Vincent
Her grace lives on in the hearts of her wonderful children, who continue to bring the same joy and love to their communities and to life. God has blessed her and her family indeed.
May Allah, grant Taj aunty the highest place in Jannah. Ameen