Elizabeth Doris Ashooh

Elizabeth Doris Ashooh, our beloved “Auntie Betty,” died peacefully on August 17, 2019, surrounded by her loving family. Betty was born to Lebanese immigrants Najeeb and Barbara (Hykil) Ashooh, on June 8, 1929, in Manchester, New Hampshire. She grew up in Manchester with four brothers and two sisters, graduated from Central High School in 1947, and worked in Manchester for more than 15 years, until she moved to Northern Virginia in 1964. Over the subsequent years she lived with her dear friend and cousin, Elsie B. Ashooh (deceased August 3, 2019) in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and most recently as residents of Goodwin House Alexandria. Betty left New England to join a large contingent of family in Virginia. She worked for 24 years at the American Enterprise Institute, where she was the highly regarded copy and production editor of Public Opinion magazine and of many AEI books. She retired in 1988. Betty was deeply involved with family in both New Hampshire and Virginia. With Aunt Elsie, she attended an innumerable number of birthdays, recitals, plays, musicals, ball games, baptisms, first communions, confirmations, graduations, and weddings. Aunt Betty expressed her love for and devotion to family in many ways, but perhaps most notably through her superb cooking. Her knowledge of Lebanese dishes, food, and techniques was exceptional, and her reputation was legendary. Her kibbe, rolled-grape leaves, coussa, hummus, baba-ganoush, tabouli, labneh, and many other dishes were the standard for many to emulate. Betty was renowned for her encyclopedic knowledge of extended family members and their connections. She was often consulted as family historian and chief story teller, and to explain, once again, the nature of various family inter-relationships. She retained a strong memory not only for people and places from the early 20th century, but also for her original language, Arabic, and she was often complimented for speaking like a native, despite never having visited “the old country.” She was a walking phrasebook for those who had forgotten or had never learned the language. Quite naturally for an editor, she had an unerring knowledge of English grammar and style and spent a lifetime ensuring that her family did as well. In Manchester, Betty was a dedicated parishioner and a founding member of Our Lady of the Cedars Melkite Catholic Church, where she volunteered many hours cooking and welcoming new members to the parish. She remained a dedicated churchwoman in Virginia. After being a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church in Alexandria and Saint Anthony Roman Catholic Church in Arlington during the 1960s, in 1971 she and Elsie, two of her cousins and their spouses, and a handful of other family members and friends became founding members of Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church in McLean, Virginia. Betty was an active and prominent member of the parish and the Ladies Guild and helped to run numerous parish events, particularly the Lebanese Holiday Sweets Sale and the Fall Food Festival. She was a well-loved role model to all women of the church community. Betty is survived by her brother Roger and his wife Elizabeth, of Fairfax, her sister-in-law Almaz of Manchester, eight nieces and nephews, 15 great nieces and nephews, and numerous family and friends. Viewing and liturgy will take place at Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek Catholic Church, 8501 Lewinsville Road, McLean, on August 21, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively. Viewing and liturgy will then take place at Our Lady of the Cedars Melkite Catholic Church, 140 Mitchell Street, Manchester, NH, on Friday, August 23, 2019, with interment following at the Saint Joseph Cemetery, 276 Donald Street, Bedford, NH. Donations can be made to Holy Transfiguration Church, “In Memory of Elizabeth D. Ashooh.” In Manchester on Friday August 23, 2019 Elizabeth will be remembered at Our Lady of the Cedars Melkite Catholic Church 140 Mitchell St. Visitation began at 10:00 am followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 am. Burial followed in St. Joseph Cemetery, in Bedford. The McHugh Funeral Home was entrusted by the family with her care.