Obituary for Maria Ghanayem
On Tuesday, August 31, 2021, Maria Ghanayem (nee Resik), beloved wife for 62 years of Fred, and loving mother of Joanne (Howard), Paul (Tiziana), Janice (Jim), Judy (Donald), Fred (Kim), Richie, Janine (and the late Sal Merlino) and grandmother of Freddy, Jesse, Gia, Francesco, Natalia and Luca.
Maria was born in Santa Clara, Cuba and immigrated to the United States when she married in 1959. Despite 62 years in Philadelphia, Cuba always remained in her heart.
Maria’s legacy is her big, beautiful family. She was a devoted mother whose greatest treasures were her children and grandchildren. She often said, “I don’t want diamonds. My family is all the riches I need.” She loved spending time with her lifelong neighborhood friends and members of The Lions Club. She also enjoyed listening to Andrea Bocelli, playing poker, watching the Game Show channel and telling one of her many jokes.
Maria is preceded in death by her brother Peter Rizk, her sisters Rose Ghanayem and Dalel Rizk. She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, her brother Dr. Pablo (Sonia) Resik, sister-in-laws Dorothy and Mary Ghanayem, her dear Mark Wilson, many loving nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, September 7th from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at St. Monica’s Church, 2422 S. 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Interment will be at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township, PA 19064. At the family’s request, masks are required.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Maria’s memory can be made to Programs Employing People, 1200 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Maria was born in Santa Clara, Cuba and immigrated to the United States when she married in 1959. Despite 62 years in Philadelphia, Cuba always remained in her heart.
Maria’s legacy is her big, beautiful family. She was a devoted mother whose greatest treasures were her children and grandchildren. She often said, “I don’t want diamonds. My family is all the riches I need.” She loved spending time with her lifelong neighborhood friends and members of The Lions Club. She also enjoyed listening to Andrea Bocelli, playing poker, watching the Game Show channel and telling one of her many jokes.
Maria is preceded in death by her brother Peter Rizk, her sisters Rose Ghanayem and Dalel Rizk. She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, her brother Dr. Pablo (Sonia) Resik, sister-in-laws Dorothy and Mary Ghanayem, her dear Mark Wilson, many loving nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, September 7th from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at St. Monica’s Church, 2422 S. 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Interment will be at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township, PA 19064. At the family’s request, masks are required.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Maria’s memory can be made to Programs Employing People, 1200 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.