Aziz Shamoun Poullath

Aziz Shamoun Poullath passed away on March 10, 2021 at his home in Temecula, CA surrounded by the love of his family. He was 88 years old. Aziz was born on June 10, 1932 in Alqosh, Iraq to Shamoun Poullath and Habuba Poullath. He was a lover of the outdoors from the beginning to the end of his life. He sowed a magnificent garden of grapes, citrus, apples, figs, berries and many other fruits and vegetables in his Temecula home. His hardworking and deditated hands grew delicious and flavorful food that fed his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and will feed many more mouths in the years to come. He worked as a Mechanical Engineer for many years and passed on his knowledge and skillset to his children. He had a great love for tools and a collection to match! In his spare time, Aziz would be found spending time with family, gardening outdoors, attending mass, visiting Habitat for Humanity to add to his never-ending tool collection, or enjoying a cup of tea. He will be remembered for his wonderful stories, incredible work ethic, and unfailing love for his family. His memory will be cherished and kept alive by his children, Basil Poullath, Bassima Jabouri, Bassam Poullath, Ban Jabouri, Bashar Poullath, Baidaa Powers, and Simon Poullath; brothers Kamil Poullath and Said Poullath; sister Samira Poullath; his 33 grandchildren and his 12 great grandchildren! The Day God Took You Home A million times I’ve needed you, a million times I’ve cried... If love alone could have saved you you never would have died. In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still. In our hearts you hold a place, no one else can ever fill. It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone. Part of us went with you the day that God took you home. Anyone who was lucky enough to say they knew Aziz was truly blessed in more ways than one. He was a devoted husband to my Grandmother, a pillar of strength to his 7 children, a role model for his 33 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. To his friends and his family, he was known as many things, but above all things Aziz was a giver. He gave of himself freely, willingly, and with his whole heart. Whether it be the fruit or vegetables from his garden, his multitude of candies and snacks, or his knowledge, wisdom, and experiences he gave it all until his last moments of life. Aziz was a rock to his family, leaving his home of Iraq to follow the American dream with hopes of bright futures, safety, and stability for his children. He selflessly left his family, including his mother whom he loved so much, his home, and everything he knew because he believed it would be the best for his family. That was the type of person he was, always thinking of others. He also had an incredible thirst for knowledge and impeccable work ethic. He studied a year abroad in France while working towards his mechanical engineer degree, a field he worked many years in until his retirement. Even after hanging his metaphorical hat he continued to work hard every day tending to his beautiful garden, creating and fixing items with his massive tool collection, and most importantly caring for our Grandmother. Not a day passed where you would not find him working hard, and though the work was strenuous he always did it with a smile on his face. That is how we should remember him, a smile on his face in all aspects of adversity. He would ask us now “why are you crying?!” throwing his hands in the air. I know everyone can picture it perfectly. For the last 10-years since Nanny’s passing Baba has said that he longs to be with her and now he is. Someone once told me, when a person passes away, we do not cry because we are sad for them, we cry because we are sad for us. Well, when we all feel like crying just remember he is happy and in a far better place than we are. He is surrounded by family and friends and most importantly his wife who he has missed so much. We should rejoice in his happiness and thank the lord for giving us the time we had with him. Not a day will go by where I will not miss him, his banter, his intelligence, his love for his family, his love of tools, his stash of candy and snacks, his obsession with napkins, and keeping anything and everything that was ever given to him regardless of how old or outdated it is. Baba will forever be remembered, and his legacy will forever live on in those who survive him through his knowledge and experiences he so selflessly taught each one of us.