Thalia Marlene Assaf

Thalia Marlene Assaf died peacefully at the age of 85 of complications of dementia, which she battled since 2009. She was a remarkable woman who touched the lives of everyone she met with her kind and compassionate spirit.

Born to Russell and Cecelia Joseph, Thalia was raised in Wilkes-Barre, PA., the youngest of six siblings. In 1960 she married Eugene Assaf at Saint Joseph Melkite Greek-Catholic Church. They were happily married for 62 years, until Eugene’s death in April 2021.

In her professional career, Thalia managed the Holiday Pancake House in Scranton, PA. After retiring, she and Eugene moved to Harrisburg, where Thalia devoted her life to making a home and volunteering with various community endeavors. She was an active volunteer for Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey’s campaigns, and she took great joy in her appointment to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Library Development. Thalia loved to sing, play the piano, golf, cook and shop—hobbies she continued when she and Eugene moved to Myrtle Beach, and ultimately to Atlanta.

Thalia was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother who always put her family first. She was a faithful Catholic who never missed Mass; clergy frequented her dining room to enjoy her cooking. Relatives and friends remember her delicious Lebanese cooking and her warm home in which all were welcome, no matter the hour. “The more the merrier” was Thalia’s mantra.

Thalia will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She leaves two sons, Gene Assaf, a lawyer in New York City (daughter-in-law, Elizabeth McHenry, and grandchildren Electa and Quinn McHenry-Assaf), and Fred Assaf, an educator in Atlanta (and daughter-in-law Martha Downer-Assaf, and grandsons Jack, Hank, Mick, Sam and Tommy Assaf).

A private memorial service celebrating the lives of both Thalia and Eugene will take place in Scranton at a later date. Family members would like to express their appreciation to the staff of the William Breman Jewish Home, who lovingly cared for Thalia for 14 years. In memory of her profound love for children and the value she placed on education, donations in her memory can be made to Scranton Preparatory School or to Pace Academy. May Thalia rest in peace, and may her memory be a blessing.