Mariam Moussavian

Mariam Moussavian passed away unexpectedly on September 18, 2019. She was a beloved mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, friend, colleague, and mentor. She is survived by her children, Moe (Michelle) and Hannah (Steve); her mother, Pari; her grandson, Justin; her sisters, Narguess (Jean-Pierre) and Leila (Rainer); and her brother Madjid (Cathy).

Mariam will always be remembered for her profound kindness and sense of compassion, along with her unwavering commitment to social justice. She touched hundreds of lives with her open heart, particularly in her work as a translator/interpreter (she was fluent in Farsi, French, Spanish and English), support worker, and advocate, and modeled an unparalleled humility and wisdom throughout her life.

She will be fondly remembered as an ideal mother for her children, an exceptionally caring and attentive daughter to her parents, a loving friend and confidante to anyone fortunate enough to know her, and a champion of human rights to her community.

~ The North Shore News (2019, October 9), Mariam Moussavian. Retrieved from www.legacy.com/obituaries/nsnews/obituary.aspx?n=mariam-moussavian&pid=194112569

 

Mariam was an active member and proud supporter of the North Shore Stroke Recovery Centre. She looked forward to attending the programs at the NSSRC and seldom declined to participate in any activities. To everyone at the Centre, her graciously warm and optimistic personality was contagious. Often one of the first to enthusiastically provide answers during mental aerobics and crosswords, Mariam was always knowledgeable, quick to answer and rarely thrown off her game. She faithfully attended exercises because staying fit was important to her and art therapy provided Mariam a sanctuary, where she could express herself by creating beautiful, meaningful art. Mariam’s presence will be greatly missed.

~ Karen Mah

Mariam was fairly quiet in our music therapy group – often receiving the music with closed eyes, moving her head to the music or mouthing the words to familiar songs. Much of the music she was familiar with was not in English and so her novel song suggestions for listening were welcomed by the group. Despite her being quiet, she would share a lot when prompted. During one session in particular, she was asked about how she knew the words to a certain Spanish song that was requested for listening. She shared that she used to teach Spanish and French, and that her first language was Farsi. She spoke of learning language in an organic way as in one must ‘live’ the language rather than simply ‘learn’ it. This wise sentiment stuck with me and I think it says a lot about what it means to speak a language – including the language of music.

~ Sam King