Azizi Mery Karam, born in San Antonio, Texas on August 31, 1920, passed away on October 6, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 98. She married Solomon J. Karam, Sr., K.S.G (1918-1986) in 1938 and had 7 children.
She is preceded in death by her husband Solomon J. Karam, Sr., K.S.G., parents Kalil Mery (1889-1988) and Sada Karam (1893-1982), three brothers, George, Aziz and Edward Mery, two sisters, Elvira Mery and Amira Mery Dean, and her children Solomon J. Karam, Jr., K.S.G., Jeanette Karam Van Delden, Robert A. Karam, and Ralph J. Karam, and one great-grandchild, Rachel Cumpian.
She is survived by two sisters, Maria Mery of San Antonio and Janie Mery Ashmore of Dallas, three children, Mary Anne Karam, Patrick M. Karam (wife AnnMarie Karam), and Josephine D. Rodriguez, and by her daughters-in-law, Patricia Karam and Ann Karam. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Valerie Lyons Wilhite, Sara Karam Holtz, Angela Karam, Adam Karam, Samantha Karam Naffah, Cyndi Karam Thompson, Kristen Karam Steen, Jeffrey Karam Van Delden, Darren Karam Van Delden, Azizi Van Delden Wesmiller, Robert Karam Van Delden, Fred Rodriguez, Lisa Rodriguez Schwaeble, Jeannine Rodriguez-Everard, Michelle Rodriguez Crippin, and RoseAnn Rodriguez McNamara, and 32 great-grandchildren.
Azizi was a life-long member of St. George Maronite Catholic Church, a devout Catholic who attended mass daily and prayed the rosary continuously. She was a member of the Knights of St. Sharbel, and in 1985 received the Silver Massabki Medal, the Maronite Catholic Church’s award for service to her parish. She was a long-time member of the St. George Ladies Altar Society and of the Bey Aleph Sorority.
At a young age and during the depression years she learned to be a seamstress, a trade she nurtured all her life. She was also an amazing cook which stood her in good stead as members of her large extended family were frequent visitors at her home. Azizi and her husband actively supported St. Peter-St Joseph’s Orphanage and were especially drawn to help the children there. They adopted eleven-year-old Josephine Dominguez in 1951 and she became part of the family.
As her family began to grow after WWII, her husband opened and successfully ran Consolidated Produce Company from 1945 until he was struck down by illness in the late 1950’s. After her husband’s retirement due to his illness, Azizi operated the family business herself with her brother George Mery until he died in 1973. She then continued running the family business with her two eldest sons, Solomon Jr and Robert. Consolidated Produce Company assisted many family members and charities throughout the years. Shortly after the death of her husband in 1986, she closed the business.
As she moved into retirement, she began painting at the age of 58. She was dedicated and unusually talented. She continued painting through her early eighties and produced a tremendous number of works of art, most of which are in homes and businesses across the state. When she celebrated her 98th birthday on August 31, 2018, it was also her first-ever art showing, when a total of 60 of her paintings were collected to display for the occasion.
Azizi was a quiet force in many people's lives and her mark will endure for generations: She will be missed by many.
All services will take place at St George Maronite Catholic Church, 6070 Babcock Road, San Antonio, Texas 78240. Visitation will be from 10:30-11:30 am, with the Rosary at 11:30 am, and the funeral liturgy immediately following. Burial will then take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, and afterwards a Mercy Meal will be served in the parish community center.
