Sophie Gobran, mother of the famed Christian Egyptian social worker Mama Maggie, passed away on Wednesday 3 January 2018, at age 94. A funeral service was held for her Thursday 4 January at the church of St Mark on Cleopatra St. in Heliopolis, Cairo.
Anba Moussa, Bishop of Youth presided over the service. Joining him were Anba Epiphanius, Abbott of St Macarius Monastery; Anba Saleeb , Bishop of Mit-Ghamr; and Anba Basilios, Abbott of the Monastery of St Samuel the Confessor, as well as Bishop Mounir Hanna of the Episcopal Church in Egypt and North Africa. A large number of clergy attended, including the priests of the church of St Simon the Tanner on Muqattam Hill, east of Cairo, which serves the garbage collector community there. Mama Maggie does substantial charity and development work with that community, and is widely loved and revered by them.
Anba Moussa gave a sermon in which he spoke of Sophie Gobran as a dedicated mother and blessed, loving woman who gave her country sons and daughters that in turn made valueless contributions to their community.
Anba Moussa relayed to the family the condolences and prayers of Pope Tawadros who praised Mrs Gobran’s sons and daughters as an extension of her great love and dedication: cardiologist Nabil Gobran, engineers Moheb and Gamal Gobran, Ms Nadia Gobran, and Mama Maggie Gobran.
Watani International
5 January 2018