Wardeh Yusuf Salameh

Our beloved Wardeh Yusuf Salameh, age 97, has found peace and joy again in the arms of Jesus as she walked into the gates of heaven. She passed away on December 23, 2018, with her loving family by her side. The daughter of Habeeb and Miladeh Khoury, Wardeh was born on May 4, 1921, in Ramallah, Palestine, where she perfected the art of tapestry, hand stitching and weaving beautiful art into fabrics, a hobby she enjoyed for many years. She married Yusuf Saliba Salameh in the summer of 1939 and raised seven children.

Wardeh is survived by the loves of her life, her children, 20 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and a small handful of great, great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Yusuf Saliba Salameh, and her grandson, Isaac Basem Salameh.

Wardeh was beautiful and generous, elegant and kind, strong and courageous. In 1969, she fled her war-torn hometown seeking a more peaceful life for her family in the United States. She worked tirelessly to keep the Middle Eastern traditions alive in her family. Her grandchildren were her greatest joy. Wardeh was a faithful member of Saint George Antiochian Orthodox church and the Ramallah Club of Jacksonville. She was a mother to all.

Visitation begins at 5:00 pm with a Trisagion service commencing at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, December 26th at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 6300 Bowden Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32216. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 27th at 10:00 am at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, with The Very Reverend Archpriest Father Kamal Al-Rahil officiating. Interment to follow at Evergreen Cemetery, 4535 Main Street North, Jacksonville, Florida 32207.