Hoda (Mimi) Hilal Kosseim died peacefully on Monday, December 28 at her home in Greenwich, CT, surrounded by her family. She was 84. With dignity and grace, she battled lymphoma and leukemia in the last four years of her life. Daughter of the late Dr. Kamel and Mrs. Alice Hilal, she was born April 5, 1936 in Cairo, Egypt. She attended the English Mission College in Cairo and continued her studies at the University of Cairo, earning a master’s degree in British Literature. In 1962 she emigrated with her mother to the United States from Egypt, to join her brothers.
Soon after arrival she reconnected with Alex Kosseim, a family friend from Egypt. They were married in Minneapolis, MN on June 29, 1963.
While raising three daughters in Yorktown Heights and Rye, NY, she completed a second master’s degree in Library Science from St. John’s University. She worked full time as a reference librarian and cataloguer at New Rochelle Public Library and then at Greenwich Library. Mimi embodied the values of academic achievement and career options for women. She was a trail blazer and role model for her daughters in balancing career, family, and community service. She viewed herself as a feminist.
Outside of her loves of family and literature, she enjoyed all forms of needlework and was a fabulous cook. She also volunteered her time at the Church of the Resurrection in Rye and later at Stamford Hospital. She and Alex traveled widely throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. Passionate about learning and embracing new challenges, she recently formed a book club, a Mah Jong group, and in her 80s, took up bridge. Her circle of friends continued to grow.
Mimi was always a hopeful and optimistic person. When speaking of her journey to the United States, she said “You look ahead. You don’t look behind.”
She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Alex Kosseim; by her children, Mona Kosseim (Paul Baumgartel) of Stamford, CT, Janine Wakim (Toufic) of Greenwich, CT, Dr. Laura Kosseim (Dr. John Lynch) of Penn Valley, Pennsylvania; her cousin Nelly Khandji of Rye, NY; her six grandchildren Matthew, Michelle, Alyse, Gaby, Katie, and Jack; as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brothers, Dr. Sadek, Ghanem, Adel, and Fayiz Hilal.
An intimate wake will be held on Friday, January 1, 2020 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Leo P. Gallagher Funeral home, Greenwich. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 2 at Immaculate Conception Church, Sleepy Hollow, NY. The Mass will be live-streamed, with details to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to “Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land,” ffhl.org
