Helene (Bassit) Touma, 97, passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2013, at home surrounded by her loving family, and now rests peacefully with our Most Blessed Virgin Mary.
Born in Syria in 1915, she served and was schooled at the Abbey of Our Lady of Saydnaya and later married Jadallah Touma in 1934. They resided in Kab-Elias, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon with their five children until 1978 when they immigrated to the United States.
For the past 34 years she has made her home in Methuen, MA where she could always be found enveloping her family with a warm smile, and an even warmer hug, while bestowing us all with blessings. She has been a loving and most beautiful matriach to her five children and their spouses, 61 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nephews and nieces. A strong Christian faith, she was a member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Lawrence. May her memory be eternal.
She was predeceased by her husband, Jadallah Touma, in 1983. She is survived by: her daughter, Minerva (Touma) Machaalany of El Mreijat, Bekaa, Lebanon; and her sons: Khalil Touma, Gebran Touma, Nicolas Touma all of Methuen, MA and George Touma of Lawrence, MA with their spouses and their families.
ARRANGEMENTS: Calling hours are Tuesday, April 30th, 2013, from 4 to 8pm, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 8 Lowell Street, Lawrence, MA 01840. The funeral services will be celebrated Wednesday, May 1st, 2013, at 11am, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. Burial will follow at the United Lebanese Cemetery, Andover, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church.