Friends, family members and complete strangers gathered in Bowness on Saturday to honour the memory of a Calgary mother and wife killed following a fuel theft getaway last weekend.
Hundreds gathered in the Bowness Community Centre to celebrate the life of Maryam Rashidi Ashtiani with an afternoon of prayers, poems and songs, one day after the funeral of the 35-year-old.
“Today is not a religious ceremony,” said Ershad Ghaznavian of the Iranian Cultural Society of Calgary. “It is just community getting together and just remembering her.”
On Sunday, a stolen pickup truck drove over Ashtiani as the gas station employee attempted to stop a gas-and-dash from the Centex station in the 1800 block of 16 Avenue Northwest.
Ashtiani’s family welcomed anyone who had been touched by her story to Saturday’s celebration.
"As soon as I heard the situation, the whole story, my heart was aching,” said Farideh Mozayan.“I just felt so bad for her, for her and her family."
"We don’t have a lot of mosques here,” said Ghaznavian. “We don’t have a lot of shia mosques here. The best place was a community centre which anybody from any religion, from any culture, could attend."
Ashtiani’s father participated in the ceremony from Iran with his son-in-law and grandson holding a phone to allow him an opportunity to hear the words of support resonating within the building.
Ashtiani relocated to Calgary after a brief stint in Montreal. The family left Iran in order to pursue a better life in Canada and Ashtiani’s husband says that plan has not changed.
"We decided to bury Maryam here in Calgary and make Calgary our future and permanent home," said Ahmad Nourani Shallo.
“I thank all of people around the world, especially Calgary (for their support)."
A trust fund for Ashtiani’s surviving husband and son has been established at TD Canada Trust.
- “In Trust for Ahmad and Koroosh"
- Branch: 01729
- Account: 6737034
