Sami Rayes

Sami Aziz Rayes was born in Cairo, Egypt on May 1, 1935, and passed away on March 12, 2026 surrounded by the love of his family. He was the cherished son of Aziz and Eugénie Rayes and the youngest of five siblings.

Sami was predeceased by his beloved wife of nearly 45 years, Mary Mussawir, whose partnership and love shaped the life they built together. He was also predeceased by his siblings whom he adored: Jeanette, Abdalla (Maggy), Marie (Emile), and Samir (Thérèse).

He leaves to mourn his three children, Peter (Samar), Christine (Samir), and Monica (Steve), as well as his grandchildren: Nicolas, Elizabeth, Olivia, Gabriella, Charles, and William, each of whom brought him immense joy. He also leaves behind several cousins, nieces, nephews and good friends.

In 1967, Sami immigrated to Canada with Mary, their young son Peter, and his mother-in-law Adele, carrying with him the hope and determination to build a better future for his family. After first settling in Montreal and later in Moncton, New Brunswick—where he proudly designed the city hall—Sami and his family eventually made their home in Granby, Quebec.

A civil engineer by training, Sami dedicated his career to teaching high-school mathematics at Massey-Vanier Regional High School for 28 years. There, he became a cherished member of the community and a lifelong friend to many, while making lasting impacts on the lives of hundreds of students. During that time, Sami and Mary welcomed two more children and laid down roots in the small town they called home. Sami designed and built, with his own hands, a big, beautiful, red brick house on a hill where the family created a lifetime of memories—filled with laughter, celebrations, and the warmth of a home built with love and meticulous detail. Eventually he moved his family to Brossard to bring his children closer to educational and career opportunities.

Sami had a profound love for life. He loved gathering with family and friends, travelling, dancing, telling jokes, and celebrating the moments that brought people together. He was often the first to raise a glass, always ready with a joke, a story, or a toast. His warmth, humour, and generosity of spirit always entertained those around him and he was known for having a big heart. Through life’s greatest challenges, Sami remained steadfast and devoted, especially as he stood lovingly beside Mary during her illness.

The light of his life was always his family, most especially his grandchildren, whose lives and accomplishments filled him with pride and happiness. He was reliably ready and willing to drive his grandchildren to and from their activities and was always wanting to be helpful. Every time he’d see them he would lovingly interrogate them on how school/work was going and was eager to know their life updates. His go-to line was: “Had I known how much I would love my grandchildren, I would have had them before my children.”

A jack-of-all-trades and a remarkable problem-solver, Sami will be remembered for his resilience, his joyful spirit, his sense of humour, his story-telling, and the deep and enduring love he showed his family and friends. His presence filled every room, and his memory will live on in the countless stories, traditions, and laughter he leaves behind.

He will be deeply missed, forever loved and always in our hearts.

The visitation will take place at La Maison Darche Funeral Services, located at 7679 Taschereau Blvd., Brossard, QC J4Y 1A2, Canada, on March 18, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The funeral service will be held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church Brossard, located at 7900 Naples Ave., Brossard, QC J4Y 1Z9, Canada, on March 19, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The burial will take place at St Laurent Cemetary, located at 805 Sainte-Croix Ave., Montreal, QC H4L 3Y3, Canada, on March 19, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.