Hikmat D. Nackashi

NACKASHI Hikmat D. Nackashi, 88, died on February 19, 2006. He was born in Mosul, Iraq on July 14, 1917. He married Jalila Naoum on June 27, 1948 and moved his young family to America in 1963. Jalila died shortly after coming to this country, leaving Hikmat to raise their four children. He was a strong, yet nurturing father to his children, raising them in the beautiful traditions of his heritage. He was known as "Jidu" not only to his grandchilden, but to friends and family alike. Hikmat's life was his family, and his family revered him as its patriarch. His goal was to support his children, which he did as a self-employed merchant. At 65, he "retired", but the Jidu we all knew could never stop working. He joined his son in starting a business, and came to the office everyday until a week before he died. Hikmat was preceded in death by his parents, Najma and Daoud Nackashi and his wife, Jalila Nackashi, to whom he was married for 21 years; four brothers, Solomon and Ephrem Nackashiof Jacksonville, and Behnam and Louis Nackashi of Baghdad, Iraq; three sisters, Raina Ossi of Jacksonville, and Maria Affas and Madeline Barnouti, both of Baghdad. Survivors include his wife, Selma Nackashi; four children, Jeni (William) Obi, Jerry (Carreme) Nackashi, Lamee (Larry) Chase, and James (Rafah) Nackashi, all of Jacksonville; two sisters, Sabeha Younan of Baghdad, Iraq and Victoria Zebouni of Beirut, Lebanon. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Erica Obi (Justin) D'Arienzo, Shawn, Jason and William Blake Obi, David, Andrew, Matthew and Michael Nackashi and Jalila Nackashi; and two great-grandchildren, Aiden and Julia D'Arienzo. Hikmat was a devoted Catholic and a member of Assumption Catholic Church. The Rosary will be recited at 7:00 PM on Thursday evening, February 23, 2006. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 24, 2006 at 10:00 AM. Both services will be held at Assumption Catholic Church. The Celebrant will be Father Selwan A. Taponi, Pastor of St. Ephrem Syriac Catholic Church. Active Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Interment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Cemetery immediately following the Funeral Mass. In memory of Hikmat Nackashi, memorials may be made to the St. Ephrem Syriac Catholic Church Building Fund, 14608 Stacey Road, Jacksonville, Fl. 32250. Corey-Kerlin Funeral Homes & Crematory, 940 Cesery Blvd., Jacksonville, Fl. 32211 (904-744-8422) in charge of the arrangements. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com