Mary Helen Massad

Massad, Mary Helen Mary Helen Massad, 62, of Red Oak and Dallas, Texas, died on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, after a long and heroic battle. Mary was born on March 10, 1948, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She grew up in Arlington, Texas, later moving to Dallas, where she attended South Oak Cliff High School. She worked for 30 years as a cosmotologist in Dallas. Later in this career, she returned to school, attending the University of Texas at Arlington. She received her bachelor's degree in History and her Texas teaching certificate. For the last 13 years, she has been a beloved 9th grade World Geography teacher at Red Oak High School. At Red Oak, where she's also loved by her wonderful faculty that she considered a second family, she has received many accolades, including Teacher of the Month, Teacher of the Year, and is regarded by many students as one of their favorite teachers. A testament to her devotion to, and love for, her students is the number of graduates who kept in touch with her and helped her when possible around town. Throughout her life, Mary was, more than anything, a devout Orthodox Christian. She was a founding member of Sts. Constantine and Helen Eastern Orthodox Church, where she has served in just about every role you can imagine. She was honored by being chosen as a member of the Order of St. Ignatious. She was a long-time member of the choir, taught Sunday school, and served on the church parish council, and has for many years been president of the Women of St. Helen. On the diocese level, Mary, over the years, has represented her church at conferences and has served in diocese-wide positions of responsibility. Mary and her church are synonymous, and it has been said by many, what a challenge indeed it is to imagine how the church will function without her. Mary is preceded in death by her father, Nicholas Joe Massad, Sr., and is survived by her mother Catherine Kouri Massad, brother Nick Massad, Jr. and wife Vicki Massad, sister JoAnne Massad Soueid and husband Alberto Soueid, brother Michael Massad and wife LaDonna Massad, niece Mary Margaret Kaplan and husband Craig Kaplan, nephew Nicholas Massad III and wife Monica Massad, niece Catherine Taylor Tritt and husband Ethan Tritt, nephews Joseph Albert Souied, Daniel Albert Soueid, Michael Massad, Jr., Thomas Massad, numerous great nephews and nieces, a multitude of aunts, uncles and cousins, and her many students and colleagues who loved her dearly. There will be a short memorial and visitation from 6-9 p.m. Friday, October 22; and a formal service at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 23, at Sts. Constantine and Helen Antiochian Orthodox Church, 3755 Walnut Hill Ln., Dallas, TX, 75229. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the church at the church address listed above, and earmarked Mary Helen Massad Memorial Fund.