Dorothy Badir Ali, our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend to many, has left us, October 21, 2016.
To her, each of us was her child, no matter our ages. Her concern for our well-being, her values, humor and teachings to us will be forever remembered, treasured, and missed.
Our family cannot express enough to one and all how fortunate we have been to have had her with us for so long. Her genuine, sincere love, caring, and concern have been far-reaching and now we will have to find a way to continue forward with our lives, as she would want and expect. This we will do, for her; for us.
Dorothy grew up in North Adams, MA. Her parents, Kassim and Margaret Ameen, had 9 children. Her early life was growing up in the midst of the Great Depression. She remembered and talked about how her family lived and survived together during those tough years. Dorothy herself had to leave school in the 8th grade to work and help provide for the family. She attended night school and became the secretary to the president of the mill where she worked. She was always proud of and thankful for her opportunities.
Dorothy met and married her husband Isa, of Palestine, in 1942. Together they forged a new family and successful business. With $800, her entire savings, and while pregnant, she started Angelina's Subs in 1958. They had a devotion to one another that would last a lifetime. Isa passed in 1977 but the values they instilled have remained to this day with our family.
Dorothy was clearly the matriarch of the Ali family and businesses. Her faith and belief in God, love and compassion for all, commitment and devotion to family and friends was unconditional. She would do anything to make our lives better; and she did. She saw the good in everyone. Her beautiful presence and love of life was always felt and she made it better for everyone who met her and became part of her life.
A quote by the poet Maya Angelou is a perfect one: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This is Dorothy's legacy.
Dorothy traveled far and wide with her late husband and her stories were unending. But her greatest stories were of Cape Cod where she shared a home with her daughter, Lisa. For decades, her family always gathered there to celebrate her birthday. She so treasured her time and friendships at the Cape. She will be missed and always loved, as she had so much love to give to us as well.
Dorothy's devoted and thankful family:
Her late father and mother, Kassim and Margaret Ameen; her late husband, Haj Isa Ali; her late daughter, Anisa Margaret Abdallah; her daughter, Lisa Maneera Ali of San Francisco, CA; her son, Faisal Ali and daughter-in-law, Linda, of Dalton; grandchildren, Yasmine Abdallah of Virginia, Samir Abdallah and his wife, Maggie, of Pittsfield, Sharif Ali of Sausalito, CA, Isa Ali and Bishir Ali of Dalton, and; like a daughter, friend Ellen Pace, of San Francisco, CA; great-grandchildren Allie, Ashley, and Amanda Hanrahan of Virginia, Walker and Ani Abdallah of Pittsfield; sisters, Jeanette Ameen, Julia Haddad and family, Nazeera Sookey and family, Fuad Ameen and family, Edna Ameen, Tina Maher and family, Edward Ameen and family, and the late Richard Ameen and family; dearest and devoted friend, Sherri Cormier.

FUNERAL NOTICE:
Calling hours for Dorothy Badir Ali will be held Wednesday, October 26, from 4:00 to
7:00 p.m., at DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Girl Scouts.org.

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