Obituary of Tahereh 'Therese', Dr. Sazegari
Passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, November 17, 2019, surrounded by her loving family and with the sun shining brightly outside the window. She was born on March 22, 1935 in Mashhad, Iran, as the youngest of six siblings. She travelled to Paris as a young woman to pursue her medical education at a time when such action was almost unheard of. She received her medical degree from University of Paris in 1966, married the love of her life and returned to Iran to practise as an academic clinical microbiologist in Mashhad University in Iran. She was the first female physician in her university to achieve the rank of full professor and went on to educate countless other future physicians during her academic career. She gave up her successful career and her life in Iran to immigrate to Canada with her family in 1988 to give her children a chance for a better life. She was a proud Canadian by choice and loved living in Montreal and London until her death. She is survived by her loving husband Dr. Hossein Etemad-Rezai, her daughter Dr. Roya Etemad-Rezai, her sons Dr. Ramin Etemad (Shahzia Abbas Etemad) and Amin Etemad (Elham Agah) and her sister Dr. Mahereh Sazegari. She was the beloved Grandma (Lali) to Shereen, Shawn, Ava and Lily and her feline grandchildren Hanni and Juno. She loved life with every fibre of her being and she lived her life to the fullest to the very end. She embodied the best of humanity and she lived her life with courage, grace and dignity. She was strong, humble, kind and generous. She was a role model and inspiration to many young women. She loved her family unconditionally and was loved, adored and respected by her family, friends, colleagues and students. Her loss will leave an endless void forever but her memory and her proud legacy will live on in our hearts. A memorial reception will be held at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, on Saturday, November 23, 2019 from 3:00 ~ 6:00 p.m. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Dr. Sazegari are asked to consider Doctors Without Borders (MSF Canada) and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.
