Mary Rashid

1931 - 2015

KEWANEE - Mary K. Rashid, 84, of Kewanee died at 9:14 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, at the home of her daughter in Middleboro, Mass.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, at Visitation Church, St. John Paul II Parish, in Kewanee. Celebrant will be the Rev. Johndamasemi Zilimu. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee, with recitation of the rosary at 6:45 p.m. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria.

She was born April 21, 1931, in Tyre, Lebanon, the daughter of Jibron and Juliette (Katra) Khairallah. She married Thomas N. Rashid on June 30, 1949, in Tyre, Lebanon, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 13, 1977.

Survivors include two sons, James (Tonyia) Rashid of Walker, Iowa, and Dr. Rober (Cathie) Rashid of Middleboro, Mass.; three daughters, Diane Gudmundsson of Middleboro, Mass., Tonia Rashid of Lakewood, N.J., and Rita Rashid of Kewanee; four brothers, George Khairallah of Lebanon, Salim Khairallah of Moline, Maroun Khairallah of Davenport, Iowa, and Shoukrallah Karella (Charles) of Florida; two sisters, Antoinette Fahd of California and Loutfia Tannous of Canada; six grandchildren, Eric (Claire) Rashid, Thomas (Dina) Rashid, Gunnar and Thomas Gudmundsson and Joshua Rashid and Randa (Ahmed) Kadri; and three great-grandchildren, Jasmine Gudmundsson and Madelyn and Alexis Rashid.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Thomas Najeeb Rashid II and Dr. Roger Thomas Rashid; sister, Amal Nohra; and son-in-law, Dr. Gudmundur Gudmundsson.

Mary, a proud naturalized citizen, came to this country in 1949, and soon started to help family members immigrate to this country. Mary, a longtime entrepreneur in Kewanee, ran the family grocery store, Rashid Grocery Sunshine Food Market, on the east end of Kewanee and also opened the first LaGondola Spaghetti House in Kewanee with her son, Roger, and daughter, Rita.

She was an avid traveler and loved life, sharing her travels with family and friends. She was a very religious woman who gave back to the community and always extended a hand to those in need. Most of all, Mary will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to all that had the opportunity to meet her.

This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.