The Life of Seyed Mehdi Afnan
Visitation Services were held on Saturday, May 5, 2007 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Martin & Castille Funeral Home in Lafayette for Seyed Mehdi Afnan, who passed away peacefully on Friday, May 4, 2007.Seyed Mehdi Afnan, a Baha'i, was born in Shiraz, Iran on August 2, 1912. He was the son of Seyed Hossein and Esmat Afnan. He was also a direct descendent of the Bab, the founder of the Babi Faith, and a close cousin of the author Hasan Balyuzi. He spent his early years with his parents and siblings in Iran. When he was still a boy, he had the great fortune of going to live in Haifa, Israel in the household of Shoghi Effendi, then the Guardian and leader of the Baha'i Faith. He spent many happy years living with the Baha'i Holy Family in Haifa and became an exemplary student, excelling in the sciences and learning many languages. As an adult, he worked for an airline as a professional interpreter and traveled to many places. He became especially fond of France and the French language though Haifa was always the home of his heart. Later, he worked as a translator and had some of his work published. An original dictionary he wrote translating legal terms from Persian to English is still in use today. Mr. Afnan had a long, wonderful marriage to Irandought Andalib, also of Shiraz, daughter of the famous Iranian poet. They had four children: Bahram, Darius, Maryam, and Mahvash. Unfortunately, the Afnans suffered the loss of their dear son Bahram in 1983. Mr. Afnan's beloved wife preceded him in death in 1997. Their surviving offspring Darius and Maryam currently reside in Lafayette, LA and Mahvash resides in San Diego, CA. Mr. Afnan is also survived by his five grandchildren: Kamran and Kamyar Afnan of Denmark and Kamilia Afnan of England; Roohieh Shahbazi of Lafayette, LA; and Bahador and Houman Sadri of San Diego, CA. Mr. Afnan was a devout, gentle, kind, good man with a playful sense of humor who deeply loved his family. He also served his Faith in many capacities, most recently as a member of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Lafayette, and was a deep font of lore about the Faith. Everyone who helped care for him in his final years was struck by his sweetness and good nature, even when he was in great pain and in difficult conditions. He made many friends everywhere he went.Mr. Afnan was buried in the traditional Baha'i manner at Holy Mother of God Cemetery in Lafayette, LA on May 5, 2007 after a prayer gathering on his behalf. Anyone wishing to express condolences to his family can contact the Martin & Castille Funeral Home in Lafayette. A Memorial Prayer Service for Mr. Afnan will be held on Sunday, June 24, 2007 in Lafayette. Matin & Castille - Lafayette, 337-234-2311
