Talaat Nomani Ahmad

Talaat (Nomani) Ahmad offered a kind laugh and a generous heart to all, for 68 years. She passed away peacefully at home on February 14, 2018, surrounded by the warmth of loved ones in prayer. Family was everything to her. To her family, she was everything perfect. She is survived by husband, Fazal H. Ahmad MD, daughters, Asma Ahmad MD and Shazia Ahmad JD, son, Aziz M. Ahmad JD LLM, daughter-in-law, Amy C. Ahmad JD MBA, and grandchildren, Zaydan A. Ahmad (4) and Hyder F. Ahmad (2). Mom, Jani, Khala, Auntie and Tally were a few endearing names she held by those close to her. Born April 7th, 1949, in Lahore, Pakistan, she was the youngest of ten. Her parents and siblings spoiled her as a child, she often said, so she had to teach herself a lot as an adult. In that, she excelled. After receiving a Master’s degree in Nutrition, she married the love of her life, Fazal, and came to America in 1973. Putting her own career ambition aside, she dedicated her life to building her family on a foundation of hard work, sacrifice, education, kindness and love – all qualities she exemplified and shared with Fazal. Tally enjoyed spending time with you. She loved conversation, and was as gracious a listener as she was a hostess – she could make amazing foods. No one witnessed this more than her dear friend, Loretta Creech (our adopted grandmother), and her frequent dinner guests, the Saggis, the Ayubs and the Aggarwals. Tally paid close attention to details, remembered your preferences and made sure each person enjoyed spending time in her home, every single time. She recognized your potential and forecasted optimistic outcomes, even when you could not see it, and gifted her unyielding energy, encouragement and support through loving home cooked meals and extraordinarily thoughtful gestures – the culmination of which, impacted so many people. An excellent cook, she spent hours in the kitchen and playfully offered shortcuts if ever asked to reveal her secrets. Her gardens a sanctuary, she spent hours nurturing an exceptional array of flowers indoors and outside. She strived for perfection in all endeavors, hummed her favorite songs, stressed over the Kentucky Wildcats and imparted her interests in music, art and travel to her family. Tally liked to teach us through good examples she saw in the world, especially those “right in front of you” – her favorite example being that of Fazal; she loved him, his self-made story, his love for family and his genuine dedication to care for those in need. In the face of adversity, Tally set an example of toughness, poise and lightheartedness all her own. She pushed herself and her family through tough times, and never shied away from helping others. At 25, despite being in a new country and having only a year-old daughter, she took on her 14-year old nephew, Javaid Masoud MS, and helped deliver his well-being for his parents. For the sake of education, she would do anything. A two-hour commute between our home in Harlan, Kentucky, and a then-unfamiliar Knoxville, Tennessee, provided better opportunities for her children, so she did it. She not only kept our family close through long-distances and lonely nights away from her husband, but somehow strengthened it during our most difficult times in 1995. She pushed her kids to transform misfortune into success. Our collective education was her greatest achievement. Giving up never made sense to Tally. Whether guiding a family member through a tragic event, or simply playing a game of Scrabble, her spirit was undeniable. As Parkinson’s Disease unfairly advanced over last 9 years, she stubbornly refused its progress as best she could – showing the same strong will and determination she exhibited throughout her life. Even with a disease-contracted body, silenced voice and shuttered eyes, she found a way to connect with you. Until the end, despite her struggles, she volunteered at Random Acts of Flowers – an organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals in health care facilities by delivering recycled flowers, encouragement and personal moments of kindness – a fitting choice. Tally kept in touch with brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, friends and relatives, near and far, and loved them all. Those friends and family that reached out to her often, even when she had little-to-no means of communicating back, held a special place in her heart- it meant everything. We would also like to extend a sincere thanks to each of her caregivers – Stella, Noelle, Gloria, Vera, Tiffany, Sarah, Elizabeth and so many others that took such good care of her including Avalon Hospice in the end. Tally will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Memorial Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in accordance with Islamic faith and her preferences on February 16th, 2018. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution in honor of Talaat Ahmad may be made to Random Acts of Flowers (http://randomactsofflowers.org) and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease (https://www.michaeljfox.org).

Tributes

Talaat Nomani Ahmad

April 7, 1949 - February 14, 2018