Ashraf Mahboobi, a devoted mother to many near and far in the family and community, passed away in her sleep peacefully on the morning of December 24th, 2024.
Her devotion to her faith surpassed any expectations, even during her latter days of her life in the nursing home, her attendees were impressed by her devotions to prayer and her attitude towards others with utmost kindness and humbleness.
Ashraf was born in an 11 children family, and being a first daughter of the family and the fourth child, she was always considered the second mother of the family, and to younger siblings she was their mother until the very last moment of her life. Although she had 4 children of her own, she was also mother for many siblings children (as many as 35). Her kindness was unequivocal which showed no preference between any one of her siblings and their children and her own children. This made her the favorate amongst the family.
She married a devoted young Bahai at the age of 17. Abdulhossien Yazdanmehr was from Neyriz, and his grand grand father had been a martyr with Jenab Vahid during the time of the Bab. He was a staunch Bahai and believed in promoting the faith via pioneering and establishing the faith in the country of Iran. Ashraf never wavered on the concept and wholeheartedly supported the idea of pioneering alongside of Abdulhossien. At first they moved closer to big cities but later they decided to leave the big city and move the remote area two hours away from Tehran in the north mountains.
Mastering the art of pioneering and community building earlier she began to implement those skills in these new locations. Soon with the assistance of her husband they both attracted many new baha'is to those area and as a result a large number of new locality opened up and new assemblies began functioning in the area.
The success of her pioneering faced challenging time when Iran went through revolution in 1979. A large number of Baha'is in the area were arrested and some prominent Baha'is and close friends were executed.
Her husband had to go away until the height of the execution passed by and during that time she became the head of the household. When the time came to send her children abroad she had to witness her three sons immigrate to Canada during the middle of 1980 with no access to the them for a long period.
During this time as Baha'i administration were outlawed in Iran she concentrated on her personal relationship with neighbours and community abroad and taught the faith by actions and kindness to non-Baha'is. This method protected them from further discriminations as their name were synonymous with good deeds and well being of the community.
She is an example of what the Baha'i Universal House of Justice requires for community building from each individual. Collaborations by Individual, community and institution resulting success in the vision of Baha'i world. She was the master of individual development by constant praying and good deeds, second she was always active with promoting the faith in the community and the love she gave to each and everyone of family and people, and third she was a staunch believer and obedient to the Baha'i institution.
Ashraf had found the path to Salvation early on in her life and nothing could then ever waver her from that path. She was a steadfast person on the path and always prayerful to be accepted in the threshold of all mighty. "As I cross the threshold of this day, I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to thy care; Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me", Puritan prayer
When she lost her husband in 2015, the one that she always loved and admired as an example of devoted Baha'i, she started the life alone and soon showed signs of dementia.
Her last two of years of her life was spent in Canada with her children and she died peacefully in her sleep on December 24, 2024, at the age of 89. God bless her soul. She is remembered by her 4 children, 9 grand children and 4 great grand children.