Obituary of Maha Pulomena
Maha Pulomena, 69, passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
Maha was born in Ramallah, Palestine and came to the United States at the young age of seven. After graduating from high school, she attended Middlesex County College and worked at Bell Labs, where she met her husband, John. They married and had two children, Matthew and Megan.
She loved being a mother and wife and later Tayta (Arabic for grandmother) to Desmond, Mila, Claire, and Ellanor. She made sure everyone around her was taken care of, their hearts warmed, their bodies well fed, and their souls touched by genuine love. This was her purpose in life, to take care of her family and friends.
She was funny, humble, honest, and committed to her work, which included running the family business, Sunnyside Deli for 17 years. She treated everyone who walked through those doors like family. She loved keeping up her house, dancing, music, painting, cooking, zumba, and had many great friendships. She was a youthful, sweet soul who loved fiercely, selflessly, and gave affection without hesitation. Her nine month battle against cancer, her fight to be here for her family, was a demonstration of her determination and love.
When asked what she wanted most, Maha often replied, “I want to be surrounded by my favorite people.” Though Megan always suspected that Matthew was her mother’s favorite, it should be noted that she waited until Megan was by her side along with Matthew and John to breathe her last breath, with a sigh of relief. Her soul departed her body and her love now surrounds us all.
She is predeceased by her parents, Jacob and Helen Ghanaim and her sister, Najwa Ghanaim.
Surviving are her husband, John; two children, Matthew and his wife Lindsay and Megan Feneis and her husband, Colin; siblings, Nuha Decker, Grace Saah, Raja Ghanaim and Saleh Ghanaim.
She will be missed by four dear grandchildren; Desmond, Mila, Claire, Ellanor.
Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation hours on Monday, December 11, 2023 from 4-8:30 PM in the McCriskin-Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Ave. South Plainfield, NJ 07080.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 11:30AM in Sacred Heart Church, 149 South Plainfield Avenue, family and friend may gather at the funeral home beginning at 10:30AM. Interment will follow mass in Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you embrace Maha’s example and be kind to each other, give without hesitation, and be with each other as much as possible.