Eshrat Soltani

<p>A long time staple of the family-owned Mac's Deli in downtown Santa Rosa, Eshrat Soltani delighted customers and coworkers alike.</p><p>Soltani died Feb. 17 after a nearly six-month battle with lung cancer. She was 81.</p><p>“She was a tough, strong-willed woman,” said nephew Toraj Soltani.</p><p>Eshrat “Eshi” Soltani was born and raised in Tehran, Iran around 1932. Birth records were not maintained in the country at the time leaving her birthdate unclear, her nephew said.</p><p>Soltani attended college in Iran, becoming a teacher for the hearing impaired and giving sign language instruction to deaf children.</p><p>“She grew up in a country and a time when women weren't allowed to do much,” said her nephew. “She was amazingly strong.”</p><p>She immigrated to the U.S. in 1975, and continued her work in education as a volunteer teacher's aide at Windsor Elementary School.</p><p>“She volunteered there while I was attending school,” her nephew said.</p><p>Soltani became a vital part of the staff at her brother's deli, often arriving at the restaurant before dawn and becoming a key developer of the menu.</p><p>Soltani's sister, Azadeh Soltani, remembered an evening when she was closing up shop around 6 p.m. and her sister rushed in. Frazzled, Soltani thought she had slept in until 6 a.m., and missed opening the deli. </p><p>“We laughed about that one for a while,” said her sister.</p><p>Azadeh Soltani remembered Soltani as a “fun” person who enjoyed joking around with customers and loved working in the deli.</p><p>“She was a really important part of this business,” her nephew said. “She was of the old country (and) worked hard.”</p><p>Coworker April Reeves considered Soltani a “grandmother,” and noted how much she cared for everyone at Mac's.</p><p>“She loved all of us at Mac's like we were her own children,” Reeves said. “She was funny, sarcastic, loving and would do anything for anyone.”</p><p>Soltani is survived by her brother, Iraj Soltani of Santa Rosa; three sisters, Azadeh Soltani of San Rafael and Manijeh and Sudabeh Soltani, both of Iran. She is also survived by her nephew, Toraj Soltani of Santa Rosa; niece Tammi Christie of Healdsburg; and numerous nieces and nephews in Iran.</p><p>A gathering of family and friends will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. March 3 at Mac's Deli, 630 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.</p>