Bahijeh Batmanghelidj Obituary

Bahijeh Batmanghelidj, 97, passed away gracefully at her home in the presence of her children on Friday, April 25th., 2025, in Reston, Virginia.

Our beloved Mother, was born on November 29th, 1927 to Hossein Feili and Sabrieh Feili in Khaneqin, Iraq, a Kurdish piece of land adjacent to present day Iran.

In 1943, she married our father Ali Batmanghelidj, of the Sangelaj region in Tehran, Iran. Their matrimonial journey, endured for more than 60 years, until our father's passing in 1975. In a loving supportive union, they had together five children named, Anooshirvan 'Andy', Daryoush, Siavush, Daryoush, Soorush and Mehrnoosh. Her husband our father, was a diplomat Foreign Service Officer for almost 40 years, rising to the rank of Ambassador representing Iran all over the world. As a diplomat's life partner, she and my father were posted to 9 countries around the world. Her dignified presence and culturally linguistic sensibilities (She spoke 4 languages fluently), adorned and elevated my father's service wherever my father was posted. Throughout her storied life, she served as a role model for her 5 remaining children. She had a special flair for making friends in all the local communities in countries where my father served. She was truly an asset as an accompanying life long partner to my father's professional ethos.

After our father's foreign service career came to an end, coinciding with the 1979 Iranian revolution, she and us children, migrated here to America, starting a new chapter in her life. She became a proud American citizen (Passing her naturalization citizenship test on her own merits on the very first try). She lived here in her adoptive country the U.S. for more than 40 years. She took special joy traveling and taking care of her children and grandchildren. She travelled across the United States, cooking her delicious memorable Persian cuisine celebrating Persian and American native traditions.

In the later remaining part of her life, she made home living here in the Sugarland area of Sterling, Herndon, and Reston, Va. With the declining health afflictions of natural old age, she endured her last year in home hospice, accepting her predicament always serenely. Her radiant features and green eyes, shone whenever she was around her children, family and friends. She was a fountain of encouragement and boosting morale for anyone seeking her solace in their personal day to day struggles. She dwelled on the fleeting nature of life, always reflecting on the one thought, ' Why do we as human beings come to this world, only to have to bid adieu at some Godly predetermined time in life?'.

Our mother is survived by all her children, grandchildren and great grand children. A service to celebrate her long and illustrious life will be held in the privacy of her immediate family. In lieu of flowers and or gifts in her honor, would be welcomed. Our special thanks to Dr. Richard Hilburn and the home hospice team of Compassus which he introduced to us.

May the Prince of Peace look after her in life hereafter, at a place in unison with my departed father somewhere in heaven. Rest her soul.

As the Persian phrase says: مادر٫فرشته بی بال ما بودی. جایت تا ابد خالیست.

Mother, you were our Angel without wings. We'll miss you until eternity.