Angela Byrde was born in 1955 in Placentia, NL, the second youngest of six children. She grew up there before leaving to attend university in St. John's, where she studied Spanish and acquired her lifelong love of the languages. While her adventurous spirit took her across the world, she retained a special fondness for her adoptive countries of Spain, Jordan, and Palestine. Upon graduating from Memorial University, she ultimately pursued studies in nursing and worked at the General Hospital in St. John’s.
Her empathy, care for others, wisdom, and love burned bright throughout her life and even in the darkest days of her illness. In October of 2019 she participated in the LLSC's Light the Night Walk while in a wheelchair, only weeks after receiving her bone marrow transplant, in the hope that her presence would lend support to others suffering from blood cancers. Her courage, bravery, and flair for life never left her, even in the most trying circumstances. In her final days, she amazingly lent support to her family and wrote farewell letters to her loved ones who were unable to see her because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even in passing, her last wish to help others continues through scholarships in her name in Canada and Jordan in nursing, Spanish language, and for those who suffered from blood cancers. She is survived by her husband, Majed Khraishi, and her children, Sarah and Zayd, who continue to cherish her thoughtfulness, wisdom, and love for her family.
