Obituary of Assefash Negewo DESTA

Assefash, a beloved wife and soul mate of Dereje, and a devoted mother to Mariyamawit (Fikir).  Assefash passed away at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta, surround by her husband, her treasured daughter Fikir, her sister Alemtsehay, and countless of her close family and friends by her side.

Assefash was born in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, her father Negow Desta, and mother Semegn Beyene. Assefash siblings are Shewaye, Alemtsehay, Asfaw, Aster, Roman, and Tewodros. She was pre- deceased by her father and mother and beloved brothers Asfaw and Tewodros. Blessed are with her memory her sisters, Shewaye, Alemtsehay, her much loved nieces and nephew.

Assefash met Dereje while completing her accounting designation at TMS College. She then completed a designation in hotel and tourism management. Before moving to Calgary, Alberta in August 2010, she managed the front desk at Semen Hotel Ethiopia for several years. Her legacy at this hotel remains as founder of the Semen Hotel Employee Union which fought to increase the wages and benefits of employees. She set up this union to help employees who are having difficult time supporting their families with a very minimum wage. From the very beginning of her career she was the ultimate humanitarian, with the little money she made she prospered in her charity, in her hard work. Her commitment to her faith and faith community and friends and her country, was of the utmost importance throughout her life.

We remember her as a loving wife, a sister, a loving mother to her daughter and her nieces and nephews. She was a mother to many of us.

Assefash we will forever miss you!