Taibe Beqiri

WORCESTER- Taibe (Lapi) Beqiri, 95, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2023 at Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. 

She was born in the small village of Perat in Permet, Albania on December 10, 1927, daughter to the late Bajram and Meleqe Lapi. Her early years were extremely difficult. Coming of age during the Second World War, she was only able to complete four years of school. She was intensely persecuted during the communist era due to her husband’s anti-communist beliefs, for which he was imprisoned for fifteen years. During that time, she raised their son alone. In the late evening hours of January 1, 1968, she, and her then family of four, made the harrowing decision to escape over the mountains and across the border into Greece. During the 15-hour trek she suffered extreme frostbite on her feet, but went on to reach a refugee camp. From there, she immigrated to the United States, making Worcester her new home. 

She leaves behind two children, Agim “Jim” Beqiri and his wife, Mexhite “Marge” of Worcester and Mezare Jafa and her husband, Neil of Cape Coral, Florida; four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, to whom she is affectionately known as “Big Nana.” 

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Mehdi Beqiri and her granddaughter, Hene Beqiri, and several siblings. 

Taibe held true to the traditions of her native Albania and was quick to let her grandchildren know when they did not, thus instilling in them an understanding and appreciation for their culture. She was fiercely independent, living alone well into her late-eighties; shopping, banking, preparing all of her meals and maintaining her large and flourishing vegetable gardens. Her lakror (spinach pie) was legendary. A tray that took her an entire afternoon to prepare could disappear in a matter of minutes. While she appeared poised and proper on the surface, she had a wry sense of humor and a smile that was absolutely contagious. 

Family and friends will celebrate her life with visiting hours on Monday, April 24^th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at the Callahan, Fay & Caswell Life Celebration Home, 61 Myrtle St., Worcester. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, April 25^th in the funeral home. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery.