Helen "Elaine" Diab Jabour

Elaine Jabour, beloved wife, mother, tayta (grandmother) and godmother, fell asleep in the Lord at her home on March 24, 2023, at the age of 85 after a long-fought battle with heart failure and kidney disease.

Elaine was born on May 10, 1937, to Rafli Diab and Adele Dawoon Diab in Tripoli-El Mina, Lebanon. From a young age, Elaine was always hospitable, social, compassionate, unselfish, and loving. Elaine enjoyed caring and spending time with her family. She enjoyed painting, sewing, and drawing which led her parents to enroll her in an Italian school run by nuns around the age of 14. Her talent shined in school as she perfected her embroidery and oil painting. The nuns always praised her work and used it as an example. Elaine had a very happy childhood, one that she would reminisce of throughout her life.

In September 1953, Theodore Jabour of Austin, Texas, met Elaine while visiting family in Lebanon. Three weeks later, they were married in a double wedding ceremony in Lebanon at St. George Orthodox Church. A few months later, in December 1953, Elaine arrived in Austin knowing very little English. She and Theodore were blessed with three children: Ralph, Margaret, and David.

Elaine was a dedicated wife, mother, and friend to everyone and was famous for her warm hospitality, motherly love, and delicious cooking. Elaine’s artistic talent was evident in her cooking that was as equally delicious as it was beautifully made. Elaine’s priority was heartfelt care and love to others. Nothing made Elaine happier than a house full of family and guests, hosting with her bountiful Lebanese cuisine.

Elaine had a deep love for her Orthodox Christian faith. She and many of the founding ladies of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church in downtown Austin would prepare delicious Lebanese dishes for the church’s annual Mediterranean Festival. Elaine would tirelessly continue this tradition for decades. In addition to her passion for cooking, Elaine loved singing in the church choir with her operatic Mezzo-soprano voice and cherished being a founding member of the St. Elias Choir. Her love for Byzantine Music was not limited to Sundays alone, but was enjoyed by the family outside of the church for many years.

Tragically, at the age of 11, Ralph, her eldest son, became sick with heart conditions that he and his family would deal with for the rest of his life. He passed away in 1990 from complications of a heart transplant. His premature death at the age of 35 devastated Elaine. It was shortly after Ralph’s passing that her daughter, Margaret, was blessed with two sons, Michael and Joseph. Elaine put her sorrows into joy as she helped nurture and care for them. Her greatest joy in life was her children and her grandchildren.

In the mid 90s, her children, David and Margaret, husband, Theodore, and brother, Gabe, began growing the family business, Twin Liquors. Elaine provided the support and care at home which enabled the family to focus on the business. The foundation of Twin Liquors is based on the values Elaine taught her children: abundant hospitality, care for all people, graciousness, genuine concern, hardworking nature and the importance of working together with one heart.

Elaine was a true angel who always put others before herself and touched many hearts.

Elaine is survived by her daughter, Margaret A. Jabour, her son, David M. Jabour and his wife, Sylvia Shia Jabour, and her five grandchildren, Roy Michael Salome, Joseph Theodore Salome, Raphael George Jabour, Gabrielle Anne Jabour, and David Michael Jabour II, all of Austin. She is also survived by her brother, Gabriel Rafli Diab of Austin, Texas, her sister, Josephine Diab Bacha of Lebanon, and many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Jabour, her son, Ralph Elias Jabour, her parents, Rafli Diab and Adele Dawoon Diab, and siblings, Basil Diab, Antoun Diab, Joseph Diab, and Antoinette Diab Tighe.

Pallbearers will be Roy Michael Salome, Joseph Theodore Salome, Raphael George Jabour, David Michael Jabour II, Habib Diab, Fadi Diab, William Jabour, and William “Bill” Attra.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Bill Attra, Anthony “Curly” Ferris, Sam Attal Jr, Gene Attal, Albert Jabour, Rafli Diab, Fouad Debs, and John Powell.

The family expresses their heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Kunjan Bhatt, Dr. William Rodriguez, Dr. David Kessler, and all of the caregivers who provided Elaine with loving and tender care.

Visitation will be held at St. Elias Orthodox Church, located at 408 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701, on Friday, March 31 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., immediately followed by the Orthodox Christian Trisagion Service. The funeral service will be held at St. Elias on Saturday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Assumption Cemetery. The Very Reverend David Barr will officiate.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. Elias Church c/o Parish Office, 15519 FM 1325, Austin, Texas 78728. If you choose to make your donation online, please specify that it is in memory of Elaine Jabour.

May her memory be eternal.