Vera Daoud Farah, age 91, left this Earth early in the morning of Sunday, November 21, 2021.
Born in Jerusalem, Palestine, on July 21, 1930, Vera was the second of six children born to Emily (Ishak) and Samaan Daoud. Her father served as a judge and Supreme Court justice while Palestine was under British rule. Vera had the opportunity to live in several cities across Palestine based on her father’s judicial postings. She was very proud that in 1953 he became a member of the Jordanian cabinet under King Hussein and for nearly 20 years served in a variety of ministerial positions.
Vera graduated from the Friends Girls School in Ramallah in 1946 at the age of 15. As a child and teenager, she was known for her academic accomplishments, especially in math; her gentle and kind demeanor; her talent for knitting; her natural, ladylike elegance; and her impressive performance on the school netball team. After high school, Vera enjoyed teaching at the Al-Ahliyeh school for boys in Ramallah. Vera loved her years at the Friends School and her time in Ramallah with her 3 sisters and 2 brothers, many dear cousins, and her beloved paternal grandmother, Helaneh.
On New Year’s Day 1950, Vera married the handsome Jiryis (Jerry) Farah in Ramallah. After a 6-month visit to Beirut, Lebanon, the couple moved to Jerry’s home in Flint, Michigan, where they resided with Jerry’s older brother Subhi (Sam) and were warmly welcomed by many friends and family. Together with Jerry and Sam, in the 1950s and 1960s, Vera welcomed many family members as they visited from the Middle East. The Flint St. George Orthodox Church community, of which Vera was a long-time member, played a large role in all their lives, for church services and ceremonies; Sunday School classes and events; parish dinners and picnics; and the Ladies Auxiliary. For the Ladies Auxiliary, Vera served as an officer, including president, and helped to chair many an annual bake sale, at which her homemade harissa was always a showstopper.
Vera was a loving and devoted mother to her and Jerry’s four children, Vicky, Joe, Victor, and Vivian. There was nothing she would not do for them and often went so far as to prepare a different meal for each at dinnertime. She simply wanted her kids to be happy and would do whatever she could to ensure that they were. All four often said that they could not possibly have had a kinder and more attentive mother. It gave her great joy to see her children’s accomplishments and successes.
In her later years, Vera was recognized by the Flint community. In 2011, she was invited to participate in the Ruth Mott Foundation cultural event “Tea with Grandma,” held at the historic Flint Masonic Temple. Vera, along with eight other women over the age of 75 from widely diverse backgrounds shared their own stories about life in Flint from the 1930s to the present. More recently, on October 17, 2017, Flint’s Arab American Heritage Council honored Vera as Arab American of the Year. And just last month, Vera happily attended the 2021 Arab American Heritage Council dinner where the St. George Ladies Auxiliary was honored.
Preceded in death by her husband Jerry, brother-in-law Sam Farah, brother David Daoud, and beloved nephew and Godson James (Jimmy) Kawwas, Vera is survived by her children Vicky Farah, Ann Arbor; Joseph Farah (Andrea LeGendre), Grand Blanc; Victor Farah (Robin Hudson), Raleigh; Vivian (John) McGee, Raleigh; her sisters Helen Salamy, San Diego; Lily Kawwas, Livonia; Nada (Rocky) Dudum, Alamo, CA; her brother Raja (Jeanette) Daoud, Ramallah; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. She will remain in our hearts forever.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 4, at 11:00 a.m., at St. George Orthodox Church (5191 Lennon Rd., Flint, 48507), Archpriest Joseph Abud and Very Reverend Father George Shalhoub officiating. A 10:00 a.m., visitation will precede the funeral. The family will also receive family and friends on Friday, December 3, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., also at St. George. A Trisagion service will be held at 7pm Friday evening at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial contributions be made to the Flint St. George Orthodox Church or the charity of one’s choice.
For their kind and loving support of and friendship with Vera, and for making her last few years happy and comfortable, the family would like to express their deep and heartfelt thanks to Mary Dozier; Chris and Shawn Veal; Tim Witucki and Janice Guisbert; Naila Bana; Mary Jo Farah; Areen Bathish; and Reem Bathish.
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