Obituary for Elizabeth El-Hindi
With both sadness and joy we announce the passing of Elizabeth “Betty” Nojeim El-Hindi, who left us peacefully at her residence in Fayetteville, New York on March 20, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Syracuse in 1925 to Lebanese immigrants John and Amelia (Hage) Nojeim, Betty graduated from Central High School in Syracuse and worked with the U.S. Government as a filing clerk supporting World War II efforts before attending Oswego State Teachers College. After receiving her degree in education in 1951, she taught at Lemoyne Elementary School in Syracuse.
Her volunteer work within the Arab American community in Central New York led her to meet her future husband, Ahmad, who had emigrated from Palestine to attend Syracuse University and become a mechanical engineer. Their 66-year marriage resulted in five children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition, Betty opened her home through the years to many family relatives and students coming to Central New York from the Middle East. And though she did not continue teaching professionally, she was an active volunteer for the East Syracuse and Fabius-Pompey School systems, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and 4-H.
Known for her kindness, thoughtfulness, and patient listening, she was loved by many in the community, and taught her children and grandchildren the importance of hard work, honesty and the need to value and respect all people, regardless of their different backgrounds or beliefs.
Betty passed on the 100th birthday of her sister, Leigh Nojeim, who, along with sister, Julia (Nojeim) Jiloty, pre-deceased Betty. She is survived by her sister, Anne (Nojeim) Saliba of Cicero and brother, Richard Nojeim of Greeneville, TN; her husband, Ahmad; her children and their spouses, Maryam (El-Hindi) and Mark Wasmund, Joseph and Wynn (Phillips) El-Hindi, Amelia (El-Hindi) and Matt Trail, Jamal and Jeanne (Sullivan) El-Hindi, and Lawrence and Fatima (Meghezzi) El-Hindi; her grandchildren (and their spouses, Kristen, Paul (and Jane), Jamal Joseph (and Lyndsey), Mark (and Emily), Elizabeth (and Marc), Peter, John, Alexander, Abdullah (and Albulena), Miko (and Widad), Maryam, Manal, Jamal John-Ahmad, Stephen, Ahmad, Leigh, Amelia, Ayman; and great-grandchildren, Laila, Omar, Elizabeth, Faye, Ruth, and Layann. She was Sitto Betty or Aunt Betty to many other relatives and friends. She was dearly loved by Cousin Nadia. Her warm smile will also be missed by Cynthia, Lynette, and Eloise who provided special care and attention for her in her later years.
Betty deeply loved her family and friends. She will be dearly missed and forever in all our hearts.
Please join family and friends to remember and celebrate the life of Elizabeth El-Hindi on Friday, August 20th at 11 AM at Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church, 5299 Jamesville Rd, DeWitt, NY. Masks required. For those unable to attend, the service, it will be streamed via the church's website:
https://www.phpchurch.org/
Donations in Betty’s name may be made to the “Ahmad & Elizabeth El-Hindi Center for Dialogue at InterFaith Works” of Central New York, 1010 James Street, Syracuse, N.Y. 13203 or online at El-Hindi Center for Dialogue. The El-Hindi Center works with communities, schools, and other organizations to promote racial and social equity by fostering mutual understanding and trust. For more about how Betty met Ahmad, go to Betty and Ahmad’s Story.
Born in Syracuse in 1925 to Lebanese immigrants John and Amelia (Hage) Nojeim, Betty graduated from Central High School in Syracuse and worked with the U.S. Government as a filing clerk supporting World War II efforts before attending Oswego State Teachers College. After receiving her degree in education in 1951, she taught at Lemoyne Elementary School in Syracuse.
Her volunteer work within the Arab American community in Central New York led her to meet her future husband, Ahmad, who had emigrated from Palestine to attend Syracuse University and become a mechanical engineer. Their 66-year marriage resulted in five children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition, Betty opened her home through the years to many family relatives and students coming to Central New York from the Middle East. And though she did not continue teaching professionally, she was an active volunteer for the East Syracuse and Fabius-Pompey School systems, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and 4-H.
Known for her kindness, thoughtfulness, and patient listening, she was loved by many in the community, and taught her children and grandchildren the importance of hard work, honesty and the need to value and respect all people, regardless of their different backgrounds or beliefs.
Betty passed on the 100th birthday of her sister, Leigh Nojeim, who, along with sister, Julia (Nojeim) Jiloty, pre-deceased Betty. She is survived by her sister, Anne (Nojeim) Saliba of Cicero and brother, Richard Nojeim of Greeneville, TN; her husband, Ahmad; her children and their spouses, Maryam (El-Hindi) and Mark Wasmund, Joseph and Wynn (Phillips) El-Hindi, Amelia (El-Hindi) and Matt Trail, Jamal and Jeanne (Sullivan) El-Hindi, and Lawrence and Fatima (Meghezzi) El-Hindi; her grandchildren (and their spouses, Kristen, Paul (and Jane), Jamal Joseph (and Lyndsey), Mark (and Emily), Elizabeth (and Marc), Peter, John, Alexander, Abdullah (and Albulena), Miko (and Widad), Maryam, Manal, Jamal John-Ahmad, Stephen, Ahmad, Leigh, Amelia, Ayman; and great-grandchildren, Laila, Omar, Elizabeth, Faye, Ruth, and Layann. She was Sitto Betty or Aunt Betty to many other relatives and friends. She was dearly loved by Cousin Nadia. Her warm smile will also be missed by Cynthia, Lynette, and Eloise who provided special care and attention for her in her later years.
Betty deeply loved her family and friends. She will be dearly missed and forever in all our hearts.
Please join family and friends to remember and celebrate the life of Elizabeth El-Hindi on Friday, August 20th at 11 AM at Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church, 5299 Jamesville Rd, DeWitt, NY. Masks required. For those unable to attend, the service, it will be streamed via the church's website:
https://www.phpchurch.org/
Donations in Betty’s name may be made to the “Ahmad & Elizabeth El-Hindi Center for Dialogue at InterFaith Works” of Central New York, 1010 James Street, Syracuse, N.Y. 13203 or online at El-Hindi Center for Dialogue. The El-Hindi Center works with communities, schools, and other organizations to promote racial and social equity by fostering mutual understanding and trust. For more about how Betty met Ahmad, go to Betty and Ahmad’s Story.