frances Ghanem asfour

Frances Ghanem Asfour (aka Francoise, Francesca, Francie, Mom, Teta) completed her calling of creating a beautiful family and welcoming friends and strangers to her ever-expanding table on May 27, 2024.
She was born on February 19, 1930 in Haifa, Palestine, one month after her father (Francis) tragically passed. Because of her family's circumstances, she and her mother (Marie), and her sister (Carmelle) lived part of her childhood with her uncle and cousins, whom she loved throughout her life as siblings and best friends.
She was educated by French Carmelite nuns, who frequently disciplined her for her spirited nature and ability to keep her peers laughing.
Her beauty and spunk caught the eye of Shukri Asfour when he caught her stealing oranges from his trees. They married on April 28, 1946, when she was sixteen years old. Shukri was the only man to ever steal her heart. He built them a home on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Haifa, and they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Leila (Sami Chamma.) In 1948, Francoise and Shukri were among the over 750,000 Palestinians killed or displaced during the Nakba (the catastrophe). They fled with their baby daughter and their extended family to Beirut, Lebanon seeking safety and leaving their home and belongings behind. While there, they welcomed a second daughter named Fadia/Fay (Gregory Stump, of Hedgesville, WV). As it became apparent to the young couple that they could never return to their beloved home, they launched plans to fulfill other dreams. In 1955, they and their two daughters were among 1,000 Palestinian refugees granted visas to immigrate to the United States during the administration of President Eisenhower. After bidding farewell to their families, many who eventually also immigrated to destinations throughout the world, they became passengers on a cargo ship that led them to a home in Weirton, West Virginia.
Shocked at first about the grit and dust of a booming steel mill in their new home, which contrasted sharply from their beautiful home in Haifa, Frances was initially concerned at how this place would ever feel like home. She and her family were quickly and consistently welcomed by the warm, multiethnic community. Seven months after their arrival, they welcomed their only son, Joseph Anthony (Joyce DeLaquil, of Land O Lakes, FL), the first U.S. citizen in their family. Five years later, they too became proud U.S. citizens, never missing an opportunity to cast their votes.
As her husband worked as a carpenter to help them become established, Frances worked various jobs to help support her family. She widened her circle of friends in Weirton as a cook at The Knights of Columbus and Madonna High School. Despite working outside the home at times, she always greeted her husband with a beer in a chilled mug and peanuts when he returned from work and often had dinner ready not just for him, but also for her children and grandchildren.
Shukri built another home for his family on Donnell Street in Weirton, about the same time that plans were under way for Saint Joseph the Worker Church nearby. The neighborhood and church community became the new home Frances longed for. She was an active member of the church, joining other women as Christian Mothers who became close friends as they cooked for various events, studied scripture, attended the grandchildren's class masses, and swapped vegetables and recipes. Weekend nights were often spent playing canasta, passing an Arguili (water pipe), and throwing bocce balls. These friends became her family in her new world.
The sense of longing for community as a newcomer in the United States created in her the desire and ability to welcome many to her home for a meal. She was famous for cold calling newcomers with Middle Eastern last names and inviting them for dinner. When anyone in her life struggled, she showed up before they even knew they were hungry with food to nourish them. Hospitality was her gift and anyone who knew her experienced the warmth and delicious cuisine that were fruits of that gift.
On her 38th birthday, Frances welcomed the biggest and best surprise of her life, a daughter named Lisa Marie (George Flaifel, of Markham, Ontario), who kept her young and
active for many years.
Of the many adventures Frances took in her life, one of her favorites was caring for her ten grandchildren. She babysat the eldest in her home and traveled to help care for the others and spend extended time with them. She attended sporting events, made favorite meals, did their laundry, and knitted blankets for their babies. She is lovingly remembered and celebrated as the queen of her family by these ten grandchildren: Nina Chamma Johnson (Mark) of Denver, CO; Nicole Stump Sergent (Brent) of Martinsburg, WV; Tania Chamma (Kamran Bolourchi) of Berre Le'Tang, France; Gregory Stump (Rebekah Wolfe) of Boise, ID; Charlie Asfour (Rebecca McFarland) of Lake Forest, IL; Monica Asfour Hanson (George) of Wayzata, MN; Jarrod Asfour (Grace Stevenson) of Park Ridge, IL; Marissa Asfour Martschinke (Joseph) of Park Ridge, IL; Stephanie Flaifel Harris, (Mark) of Kitchner, Ontario, Canada, and Joseph Flaifel (Sundy Zheng) of Toronto, Ontario. Her grandchildren basked in the glory of her ability to be their friend as adults and enjoyed her stamina to celebrate life with them for many years.
"May you live to see your children's children." (Psalm 128:6) Frances was blessed beyond measure by living to see her fourteen great-grandchildren: Simon and Nathan Johnson, Gabriella and Leila Grace Sergent, Cooper and Kennedy Stump, Raleigh and Benjamin Asfour, Lili Rose Chamma Bolourchi, Gabriel and Elijah Hanson, Theo Asfour, and Jack and Claire Francoise (her namesake) Harris. They enjoyed and laughed at the occasional embarrassment of their great Teta's adoration, shenanigans, and one-line zingers.
Frances was a constant caregiver and selflessly gave incredible care to her mother Marie, husband Shukri, daughter Leila, and son-in-law Sami who all preceded her in death after long illnesses. Despite the heartbreaking pain of these losses, she honored their memories by living each day fully and lovingly.
To Frances, her family was her priority and her largest source of pride. She was never happier than when the family gathered, and that family extends to nieces, nephews, and cousins surviving her throughout the US, Canada, Australia, France, Lebanon, and Kuwait. She loved traveling to enjoy family events with them and planned "the menu" weeks before they visited her. She was often the life of every family party, well into her late 80's.
Since 2015, Frances made her home with her daughter Fay and son-in-law Greg in Hedgesville, WV, where her outgoing nature served her well in adding new friends to her long list of people she has loved. Many of those friends helped her family to care for her during her last years along with a large team of dedicated in-home medical providers. The family is forever grateful for their compassion, patience, and tenderness. Their gift allowed her to enjoy her final years as independently and fully as possible, surrounded by the family she raised and so enjoyed.
Viewing will take place from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Monday, June 3, 2024, at St. Leo's Catholic Church, 2109 Sulphur Springs Road, Inwood, West Virginia, followed by funeral liturgy co-celebrated by Father Mario Claro and Father Alfred Obiudu.
In Weirton, West Virginia, viewing will also take place from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, at Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street with Christian burial at St. Paul's Cemetery to follow.
Arrangements are being made by Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home.
Because Frances often chose to care for others, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Frances's memory to the United Palestinian Appeal, 1330 New Hampshire Ave NW, Suite 104, Washington, DC 20036, United States.
Hospice of the Eastern Panhandle. 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430 United States.
Share online tributes at www.grecohertnick.com