Therese Tegho

Born in the city of Aleppo, Syria in 1935 to Virginia Yelda and Boutros Chahara. A family of 5 siblings. Juliette Tegho, Joseph Chahara, Josephine Chaya, Madeleine Aguilar.

Mom was married to my father Louis Joseph Tegho on November 24th, 1953, for 53 Years. Mom & Dad have 3 children. Roberto Louis Tegho Chahara (Ma. Elena Villarreal Tegho) from Mexico City, Ricardo Louis Tego Chahara from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Carol Tegho ElHage (Michael George ElHage) from Jacksonville Fl.

Therese leaves 9 Grandchildren: Shantall Tegho from Boston, Ma, Fabiola Tegho Alcaraz (Sergio Alcaraz) and Luis Tegho from Mexico City.

Peter Eli Sleiman (Nicole Poulos Sleiman) from Chicago, Ill, Paul Eli Sleiman, Louis Eli Sleiman from Miami, Fl. Anthony Eli Sleiman from Dallas, Tx. Pascalle Tego Segura (Santiago Segura) from NYC and Nicole Tego Contreras from Kansas City University.

Mom also leaves 6 Great-Grandchildren: Sebastian Alcaraz Tegho, Santiago Alcaraz Tegho, John Peter Sleiman, Madeleine Joy Sleiman, Joseph Peter Sleiman and Elizabeth Caroline Sleiman.

On behalf of all my family I want to voice profound appreciation for my mother.

At the young age of 17 mom decided to choose my dad over a cousin in Mexico City and declined to travel to meet him but instead eloped with dad in Lebanon with only a red coat and her sister Juliette and Ammo Dominique Tegho as their witnesses. Yes, mom and Juliette were sisters and sisters-in-law. My brother Robert was born a year later and right at his 4 years of age, mom and dad decided to move to Mexico where mom’s mom was with my 8-year-old aunt Madeleine. My grandmother Virginia and my mom’s youngest sister Madeleine and the only now survivor moved to Mexico following family due to the early loss of my

Grandfather Boutros Chahara.

As all immigrants from far away countries, mom and dad struggled their family through success. Starting only with selling Ground Coffee to opening a neighborhood

Convenient Store (Café Delicia) to the prowess of “Productos El Cedro”. A Dry Food Packaging factory and delivery to grocery stores throughout Mexico City and Adjacent states. My brothers and I are forever grateful for all the virtues our parents instilled in us.

Their deep devotion to their Catholicism, the morals, the ethics, the family values, the teaching of honest hard work and discipline.

As life played its cards, I ended up in Jacksonville, Fl. Mom and Dad decided to make the move and retired. By 2007 my mother became a US citizen but unfortunately dad passed in 2006. It was a particularly difficult time for my personal family of 4 children. My mom was a solid foundation to me and my 4 sons. She was loyal, dedicated, loving, kind and tender to my 4 sons and to me a staunch supporter. The kind of friend that anyone longs to have. She was with Peter, Paul, Louis and Toney through thick and thin and that will be forever marked in each of our hearts teaching what love is all about.

She was a haven, always present during smiles and tears. Always ready to listen patiently and kindly and ousting nothing but wisdom and strength and lovingly delicious homemade cooking.

Due to the presence of my boys in the US, mom also had the privilege to see them grow and them reciprocate in adulthood in so many gracious ways. Hospital stays to make sure mom was safe, trips, graduations, Winter Formals. Most of all, mom was proud to see them become the kind, loving individuals they are today.

Mom made a new friend. My beloved husband of almost 3 years. Michael and mom became best buddies. I have never heard my mom say that someone reminded her of my dad, but Mike did. As mom’s health declined, Mike made sure almost every evening that we visited to play towle (Backgammon). Mom felt comfortable asking Mike to get her stuff from the Grocery Store. They harvested mint together and prepped it to then provide friends and us with this delicious herb.

Mike and I take the joy of having taken Therese to Acapulco where Mom and Dad got us a beautiful Condo for the family to get some rest from the mayhem of life and boy did we enjoy this!

This trip marked a new future for our family, and we also owe this to this beautiful, sincere, intelligent, kind, loving, loyal, dedicated, mother who we were all blessed and privileged to have been granted by our Lord and Creator.

THERESE CHAHARA TEGHO

Mom, we will miss you forever and ever but know with what you and dad taught us that we will see you when the time comes and the Lord upstairs calls us as he did you On a February 1st, 2026, because it was His decision. And just as you told Mike your last Sunday Morning, he will bring the Towle so you both will be playing again when the Lord says so. You were loved and appreciated from here to the moon and back mommy.

Carol & the gang.

A visitation will be held at St Maron Church, located at 7032 Bowden Rd, Jacksonville, FL, 32216, United States, on February 8, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The funeral service will take place at the same location on February 9, 2026, starting at 11:00 am.

The committal service will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery, located at 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32207, on February 9, 2026.