TRIBUTES have poured in following the sudden death of much-loved and ‘tireless charity worker’ Lynne Alwazzan at her home in Saar.
Described as a proud mother and grandmother, the wife of leading Bahraini businessman and one of the directors of Intercol Abulrahman Alwazzan, suffered a heart attack yesterday morning.
“The loss is big for the whole family and for Bahrain too. She will be missed,” her brother Kevin Smith told GDN.
A champion volunteer, Ms Alwazzan, was actively engaged in several charitable endeavours in Bahrain. She supported community organisations such as the Mother and Child Welfare Society, Aisha Yateem Family Counselling Centre (AYFCC), American Women’s Association (AWA) and the Indian Ladies Association (ILA), among others.
Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, in the north of England, she arrived in Bahrain 40 years ago after meeting, falling in love and marrying Abdulrahman in England. She treasured their three children – Ali, Mahin and Hassan – and five grandchildren.
Businesswoman Mona Almoayyed described her as the ‘kindest soul’ she has ever met. “She was the most giving, charitable and kind person. I had known her ever since she got married to my cousin.
“Our children grew up together. I have been recollecting the good old days when we used to take them to nursery together. Her family and friends will miss her. May God bless her soul.”
Another leading community activist Shirley Yateem echoed similar sentiments. “I will miss her very much as she left her mark on Bahrain by being just the person she was – kind, warm, loving and generous to all.
“My deepest condolences go out to the family who will miss her presence, laughter, fun and support,” she added.
Ms Alwazzan was the longest serving member of the AWA and the association even has an award named after her, which is presented to new active members.
She had also been an ardent supporter of the ILA and its project Sneha, the school for special needs children, since 1994 when former group president Vani Krishnan introduced her to the association. She was part of Sneha’s year-long silver jubilee celebrations in 2012, remembers ILA president Reena Sreedhar.
“Her sudden demise has caused a great vacuum in our hearts that can never be filled by anyone else and ILA will always miss her warmth and support forever,” said Ms Sreedhar, who shared her team’s heartfelt condolences to the family.
Lynne Alwazzan with friends
Intercol general manager Santhosh Pai, also said that the heartbreaking loss of Ms Alwazzan had devastated the entire Bahraini society. “She had a heart filled with compassion for all people,” he added.
The Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF) leadership added that Ms Alwazzan had supported its medical camps since 2002.
“Her generous contributions have helped us to support thousands of underprivileged Indian labourers,” said ICRF chairman Aruldas Thomas. “Her good deeds will be terribly missed by the community.” In an earlier media interview, Ms Alwazzan had thanked her parents for introducing her and her sister Norma, as they were as young as nine and 10, to charity work, mainly with the Salvation Army and other charities within Newcastle.
Her marriage to the Alwazzan family united her into a family legacy of charity – her father-in-law, the late Ali Alwazzan, former director of Intercol and former Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and mother-in-law Asma Khalil Almoayed.
Both her parents, Joan and Bob, spent the last 15 years of their lives in Bahrain, her father passing away in 2011 and her mother six years ago.
She said in a 2016 local media interview that she and her sister had been introduced to charity work at a young age by them.
Ms Alwazzan would have celebrated her 70th birthday in December. Funeral details will be released by the family shortly.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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