Sumaya Elias Saliba

Sumaya Elias Rizkallah Saliba passed away unexpectedly in her home in Bristow, Virginia during the early morning hours of Sunday, June 14, 2015. She is now in Heaven with her beloved husband Isa Saliba, her son Chuck Saliba, brother Samih Rizkallah, sisters Siham Mansour, Suhaila Khoury, and grandson Andrew Zoorob, who have gone before her.

Sumaya spent her life as a wife and mother. She also worked in retail clothing sales for more than 17 years and received several awards for Best Customer Service, Sales and Best Employee. Sumaya was an excellent seamstress, and was very creative. She had the skill to design clothing without using a pattern. She was passionate about gardening, growing indoor plants, flower arranging and her pet cat Samson.

She was a born-again Christian and was a member of Cherrydale Baptist Church, then pastored by Rev. A. W. Jackson, in Arlington, Virginia, where she grew in her new faith. Sumaya and Isa were among the founding members of The Arabic Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. pastored by Rev. Esper Ajaj.

Sumaya was loved and will be dearly missed by her surviving family. Her children Linda Shreck, Sylvia Taweel, Timothy Saliba, and their spouses David, Lou and Terri. Her grandchildren Michael Saliba, Shane and Sage Saliba and their mother Sheila; Matthew Zoorob; Alexandra Taweel Mitchell, Jeffrey Taweel; Brandon and Justin Saliba. Great-grandchildren Anna Saliba, Aiden Mitchell, and Nicholas Thompson . Her brother Sami Rizkallah, sisters Ayda Kassis and Samira Khoury, with their spouses Nellie, Khalil, and Nasim. Her in-laws George and Naima Saliba, along with many nieces, nephews and friends.