May 26, 1934 – April 21, 2010
Sophie (Massiwer) Hallal was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to George and Sarah (Sapag) Massiwer on May 26th, 1934. Sophie was the fifth child and first daughter in the family of seven children. Two of her older brothers, Emil and Abraham, passed away in early childhood. She also had two other older brothers, John (d. 2000) and Mitchell as well as two younger sisters, Lily (d. 2024) and Dianna.
Sophie graduated of East High School in Pawtucket (now Tolman) in 1952. After graduation, she began her career as a secretary for American Insulated Wire Company. Throughout her life, she remained dedicated to roles that served others—working in secretarial positions and later as a teacher’s aide.
Sophie’s faith was the foundation of her life. She sang in the choir and was a Sunday School teacher for over 40 years. She later joined the Parish Council and the Ladies Society, actively contributing at the local, regional and national levels. She never missed Divine Liturgy on Sundays and faithfully attended every service during Great Lent—Easter being her favorite time of year. Also, every time she stepped outside her home, she made the sign of the cross—a quiet yet powerful symbol of her constant connection to her faith and God.
It was at Saint Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, the heart of her spiritual and social life, that Sophie met her future husband, Frederick Hallal. They married in 1960, and together they raised four daughters: Holly (Bob) Lazieh, Paula Hallal, Cheryl (Anthony) Nassaney, and Nancy (Dimitrios) Sterpis.
Sophie and Fred on their wedding day — June 12, 1960, at St. Mary Church. Surrounded by 200 guests, they began their lifelong journey with a honeymoon road trip to Miami, Florida. They were married for 49 years.
As a mother, Sophie was devoted and determined. Her advocacy for the handicapped came from love and necessity, as she raised her daughter, Paula, who had Down’s Syndrome. She remained at home while her children were young, dedicating herself fully to their upbringing. A firm believer in the power of education, Sophie encouraged each of her daughters to pursue college—an opportunity she hadn’t had herself when she was young. Yet, later in life, she proudly earned her associate’s degree in childhood education from Roger Williams University, all while raising her family.
In retirement, Sophie’s life remained full and active. She continued her deep involvement with St. Mary Church and found time to give back to her wider community through the local senior center, the American Red Cross and she also served the homeless. Sophie also welcomed anyone without a family to share in her holiday gatherings as she believed in hospitality, kindness, and faith.
Sophie enjoyed reading, doing puzzles and anything else to keep her mind sharp. She loved to travel—visiting cities across the United States and even venturing abroad to Greece and Chile to reconnect with relatives and her heritage.
Sophie’s greatest pride and joy came from being surrounded by her family, especially her grandchildren: Jordan, Alexander, Moses (d. 1996) Lazieh, Emma and Evan Nassaney, and Steven and Nicholas Sterpis. Sophie took great pleasure in helping them reach childhood milestones as well as passing on to them her love of family, faith and community. Sadly, Sophie never got to do the same with her youngest grandchild, Nicholas, having found out just before she passed away that she would become a grandmother again.
Sophie was more than a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and church member. She was a woman of integrity, humility, and profound faith. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her—a legacy of love, service, and unwavering devotion. And though we miss her every day, we hold onto the hope and promise that one day, we will all be together again.