Oscar Clement Chahine

My father, Oscar Clement Chahine was born November 09, 1928, to Clement and Cecelia (Begelan) Chahine in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Clement was an immigrant from Jordan and Celia was an immigrant from Switzerland. Oscar was one of 5 children and the only son in the family. His parents owned a restaurant where Oscar helped out as he grew up. After graduating from school, he joined the army and became a paratrooper. Dad was also a cook while in the military using the skills he learned when he was growing up. After his time in the military, he met and married his first wife, Rose. They had 4 children, Paulette, Rodney, David and me…. Jody.

I have so many memories of my dad doing fun things with us. He was always taking 8mm Kodak movies of our antics. Once he filmed us as we climbed the walls in a narrow hallway of one of our homes. I suppose we marked up the walls but I don’t remember him caring. Another time I remember him bringing home a blue go cart. He set it up in the yard and let us make a track in the grass. We were allowed to go as fast as we could. When it ran out of gas, he would fill it up again and encourage us to drive wildly. I also remember a time that we were going to take down a wall and remodel part of the house. He gave us all hammers and said “Go for it”. He watched and laughed as we attempted to knock down the wall. I have so many memories of him being such a fun dad. Dad travelled a lot when I was young and he would always return with interesting presents for us kids. On more than one occasion he returned with a turtle that he found crossing the road from a southern state. Another time he came home with a monkey he accepted as a down payment for a sale. Life with Dad was unpredictable but always fun.

Dad was a salesman. In his early career he worked many different jobs selling various products. He attended the Dale Carnegie Sales Training courses where he learned lifelong lessons about sales. He loved being a salesman and he loved the challenge of “getting the sale”. One of his favorite quotes was ”nothing happens until someone buys something”. He also would say, “You don’t get…. unless you ask”. He started several companies over the years. Sometimes his business was a success and sometimes not, but eventually, he made a very good living as a swimming pool contractor in California which he did until his retirement.

I learned many lessons from my dad. I would help him do projects around the house. When I was about 7 years old he taught me to think ahead and have the next tool ready because that is the best kind of helper. I was not allowed to complain about doing a chore. I remember him telling me, “Do the job first, complain later”!!. Dad was a good teacher. I learned to work hard, do the job right the first time and keep working until the job is finished and finished well. I can attribute all that to my father. I thank him for instilling in me the importance of hard work and doing quality work. Thank you dad.

Dad liked humor. He loved to tell a good joke. I remember him telling jokes all the time. He would tell me to “leave them laughing” after a sales meeting.

When Dad met Mona he knew she was the right person for him. He was very happy when they got married. He seemed to have found his soulmate. She was always so very helpful to him and a gracious hostess to family and friends. He loved and cared for her very much. We are so thankful to her for caring for Dad with such devotion and love.

On February 18, 2017 I went down to visit dad. I sat with him alone and we talked about Salvation and being “Born Again” as Jesus taught Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. Dad listened as I spoke and was very

interested in being born again. When we finished he said “Let’s do it”. I lead him through the Prayer of Salvation and he accepted that Jesus sacrificial death was for him. At that moment Dad became a Born- Again Christian. Dad went from death to everlasting life. He was guaranteed eternity in heaven with Jesus and all of the saints in heaven for eternity. Oscar’s soul is in heaven.

I look forward to being greeted in heaven and given the grand tour by my DAD.

I love you DAD and miss you. Until we meet again.

Your Son Jody

A chapel service for Oscar will be held Monday, December 30, 2019 at 12:00 noon in the Westminster Memorial Park Main Chapel with a Mercy Meal to follow at St. John Maron Maronite Catholic Church at 300 South Flower St. Orange, CA 92868.