Romelda R. Safyeh

Romelda Regina Safyeh, age 84, was born on April 10, 1939 in Jerusalem, Israel to Hanna and Frida Safyeh. She passed away on Monday, November 6, 2023, at her Assisted Living residence at La Vida Llena Life Plan Retirement Community in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Romelda was a registered nurse who earned her nursing degree from a university in England. She received a Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Reading also located in England. Romelda traveled extensively in Africa where she was a nurse midwife and a supervisor for health programs for Catholic Services. She was involved in one of the early drug rehabilitation programs at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Romelda worked for the Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico for many years until her retirement.

Romelda valued knowledge. She was very inquisitive, intelligent and independent. She spent many years exploring various subjects on history, philosophy, religion and science. In her later years, Romelda became visually impaired. With her strong determination, that did not stop her from listening to several forms of media on different devices including cassette tapes, compact discs, and the radio. She used a large screen television to keep up with the latest news and current events. Romelda enjoyed listening to a diversity of music, especially classical. She loved animals. Her last two beloved dogs were Lily and Charlie. Romelda was a devoted, generous and loving daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend.

Romelda was preceded in death by her parents, Hanna and Frida Safyeh, step-mother, Hamest Safyeh, sister, Frida Batarseh, brother-in-law, Maurice Batarseh, partner, Marguerite Simonson and her dogs, Lily and Charlie.

Romelda is survived by two brothers, Raffi (Hala) Safyeh of Jerusalem, Israel and Bared (Stella) Safyeh of Doha, Qatar; nephew, Joseph (Carole) Batarseh of London, England; niece, Lara (John) Banian of London, England; great-nieces, Reyna Batarseh, Nireh Safyeh; great-nephews, Christian Batarseh, Alexander Banian, Armen Safyeh, Vicken Safyeh and Saro Safyeh; other family members, special friends and the La Vida Llena community. Romelda will be dearly missed.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, January 12, 2024 in Carter Hall at the La Vida Llena Life Plan Retirement Community, 10501 Lagrima De Oro Road NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111. The Scattering Ceremony of her ashes will take place at 3:00 PM in the Rose Garden at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107.