Jamel Hassen Barden

A wonderfully unique member of our community went to her just reward in Heaven on June 2, 2026. Jamel Hassen Barden (93) lived her life surrounded by friends she held close from the third grade at Angle Lake Elementary-in what is now the city of SeaTac, WA. Only Arabic was spoken at home, so she had to learn English while learning her lessons and earning the reputation as the friendliest girl in school. In fact, she was later formally awarded that title and a certificate while a student in Highline High School. Her friends said she never met a stranger she didn’t like. To her last day with us, some of her closest friends were classmates from her third grade at Angle Lake elementary school.

Jamel was born to parents (Sam and Asma Hassen) who immigrated with a 16-year-old daughter (Dora) to the United States from Beirut, Lebanon in 1928. Jamel’s older brother (Bill) was born shortly after their arrival in Seattle, and Jamel was born February 5, 1933. Dora was twenty years older than Jamel and acted as her second mother. Jamel’s mother, Asma, never learned English, so Dora was Jamel’s liaison with the Arab culture and Arab American community in the area. The family spoke Arabic at home and English at work and school.

Sam Hassen left his wife and daughter in Lebanon and came to America in 1910 to seek his fortune, He cooked for the crews building Highway 99 from Seattle to Tacoma. When the state sold surplus land parcels after construction of the highway, Sam bought parcels along what is now South 208th and built the 7 Gables Restaurant which was a popular dining location for four decades.

In 1926 Sam returned to Lebanon to retrieve his family and bring them to their new home. Prior to their voyage from Lebanon, Bill was conceived, and he was born shortly after the family arrived at Ellis Island in New York and moved to the Seattle area. Jamel was born February 5, 1933, at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle and started life in the family home behind the restaurant. When the home burned, they moved to space upstairs above the 7 Gables Restaurant.

From a very young age, Jamel served water and cleaned up tables in the family business. By age 13 she was waiting tables after school. Her brother, Bill, was the cook. Sister Dora cashiered and served the counter. Customers sometimes asked Sam if he was aware of Washington state child labor laws.

Jamel attended Angle Lake elementary school in south King County. She walked the eleven blocks to and from school, did her homework, and then worked in the restaurant. She graduated from Highline High School in 1951 where she was involved in many activities, including Pep Club, Choir, Ensemble and especially the Yell Squad. She served as Yell Queen in her senior year.

Jamel graduated from the University of Washington in 1955, with a degree in Business Education, having served for three years as a Husky Cheer Leader with her best friend and sorority sister Barbara Linn, and four years as a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. Jamel was honored by being elected president of her pledge class (1951- 52).

After graduation in 1955, her first job was secretarial at Union Oil offices in Seattle until she became secretary for Northwest Airlines for a year. After that, she became a United Airlines stewardess (now called flight attendant) and flew for four years. Since then, Jamel was an active member of the Seattle chapter of Clipped Wings, a social and charitable organization of former United Airlines flight attendants.

Jamel began her teaching career at her alma mater, Highline High School in 1960. She taught Business Education courses in the Highline and Federal Way school districts her entire career, retiring at Decatur High School in 1993. She started the Future Business Leaders of America chapter at Decatur and served as chapter advisor for 14 years. Jamel initiated the teaching of office use of computers at Decatur. She had to attend night classes with other teachers from the district conducted by Radio Shack personnel. Jamel struggled to stay ahead of her students, some of whom had computers in their homes. That was a tough year.

Jamel met the love of her life, Paul Barden, in 1961 at the Policemen’s Ball and they were married August 25, 1962. Jamel traveled widely singing with her quartet while Paul enjoyed wilderness hunting. They never complained about their disparate hobbies.

They raised two sons, Eric Richard, born 1965, and Craig Paul, born 1966. Also in 1962, Jamel was the lead singer of the Sea-Adelines barber shop quartet. They won the international championship of Sweet Adelines International, at the 1962 competition in Toronto, Canada. She was a member of the Coronet Club, whose members are all former International Champions, called Queens of Harmony. Jamel loved singing and enjoyed her years as a member of her quartet and the Puget Sound Chapter Chorus of Sweet Adelines International.

In 1995, Jamel began a new career with Nikken International, a network marketing company distributing natural health and wellness products worldwide. She specialized in teaching people how to work full- or part-time from home teaching others to improve their health through natural products and activities. She made many new friends who remained the rest of her life.

Since their first year in existence in 1976, Jamel was an avid fan and season ticket holder of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. She rarely missed attending games, which she loved, and has known many of the players.

Jamel is survived by her husband Paul; her two sons: Eric (Amy) and Craig (Cynthia); six grandchildren: Tyra, Tova, Zeke, Cole, Sophia and Sage; and seven great-grandchildren: Brynn, Oakley, Oliver, Bella, Giovani, Dominic and Victor. She is also survived by her stepdaughter, Theresa DeMarco (Roland Sr.), and three grandchildren: Roland, Dominic (Jennifer) and Annalise. All the above were the true treasures of her life.