Obituary of Andraos (Andre) Raja HAWA

December 6, 1944 - Haifa, Palestine
February 23, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Andraos (Andre) Hawa, beloved husband of Amal Hawa (nee Daniel) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at the age of 76 years.

Andre was born in Haifa, Palestine on Dec 6, 1944. His family moved to Cairo, Egypt when he was four years old.  He grew up in Egypt with his seven brothers and had many wonderful memories of participating in boy scouts and engaging in desert boot camp. He went to university in Cairo where he obtained his degree in accounting, then relocated to Lebanon where he started his career. He worked extensively all over the Middle East and southern Europe.

While in Beirut, he met and married the love of his life, Amal Daniel. Together, they had two children, Lucy and Nano. After experiencing several harrowing years amidst the Lebanese civil war, Andre emigrated his family from Lebanon to British Columbia, Canada in 1986.

Andre was a long-term member of the St. Joseph’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in the lower mainland of Vancouver. He loved to sing in the choir and to volunteer making falafel at all the summer festivals. He also enjoyed shopping for fruits and vegetables and would always boast about the deals he could find. Whatever price you paid, he paid less!  He had a passion for cooking and he was always force-feeding everyone around him.

Andre was known for his kind, helpful, big-hearted personality and for having a very dry sense of humour. He often referenced his favourite joke about how first comes the engagement ring, the wedding ring and then the suffering.

Andre accomplished much through his life and was particularly proud of his children graduating from university, getting married and having kids of their own.

Besides his loving wife Amal, Andre is survived by his daughter Lucy (Byron), his son Nano (Sarah) and his grandchildren Jack, Vera, Toby and Otis Andraos.  He is also survived by his brothers Gabby (Juliette), Elias (Claudette), Nicola (Samia), Bshara (Juliette), Boutrous (Grace), Tony (Mary); his sisters-in-law Katie, Grace, and Rima (Guy) and brother-in-law Emile (Oriane); as well as his beloved nephews and nieces, Hweida, Rola, Raja, Rana, Ramzi, Rami, Nadeem, Marianne, Marieclaire, Nicolas, Robert, Peter, Mark, Anthony, Antoinette, Doris Andrew, Daniel, Kimmy, Kelly, Mikey, Danielle, Gerry, Matthew and Lizzie along with countless cousins.

He joins in heaven his mother Alice, his father Raja, his brother Assad and his nephew Raja.

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

A Private Funeral Service will be held in Calgary, AB, on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Due to Covid Restrictions, the maximum number of attendants will be 20. Condolences, memories and photos can be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Andraos Raja Hawa, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.