Katy was born in Jerusalem on September 13, 1937 to Odeh and Maria Jahshan. She lived most of her young life in Jericho, Palestine. On December 4, 1960 she married her loving husband, Hanna Jildeh, in Ramallah, Palestine. Hanna and Katy immigrated to East Lansing shortly after. Being so far away from home and family, Hanna and Katy found solace in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and were active members until their passing. Katy has been a proud member of Philoptochos Ladies Society in the church for 50+ years. She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. She enjoyed helping manage the family watch repair/jewelry business with her husband. When she wasn’t at the church or helping her husband she was volunteering at St. Lawrence Hospital gift shop. Katy was also a member of the HELO (Haslett, East Lansing, Okemos) Club where she enjoyed the fun get-togethers, especially the luncheons. She loved to help people and volunteered in so many different ways, whether it be in church, hospitals, schools, libraries, voting polls just to name a few. Katy also loved her knitting. She knit baby hats that were donated to many Michigan hospitals for new born babies, hats and scarves for cancer patients and beautiful baby blankets for anyone and everyone she knew that was having a baby.
These blankets will be cherished knowing they were made with so much love; Katy was a loving, giving person. Her door and phone were always open to anyone. She loved to cook for people and would send food to friends just because. Her cookies she shared with everyone will be missed by all. When she shopped she would always buy things for people just because. Even though Katy’s door has been sadly shut, her loving generosity will never be forgotten.
Katy had so much love to give, especially to her children and grandchildren. Whether it was giving advice or making you laugh, she was always the life of the party. She loved talking on the phone and checking on everyone. Whether she knew you well or just met you she would check in and ask about you. The weather was always a topic she had to talk about; she was always worried about bad weather. Many of us will miss those daily phone calls. Katy was an avid Michigan State Spartans fan and loved the green and white.
Katy is preceded in death by her loving husband, Hanna, and her loving brothers, Yousef, Elias, Fouad, Raymond.
Katy is survived by her son Samir and daughter Samia (Fouad) Haddad and was the BEST TETA to Danny, Mark (Miranda), Joey, Hanna, and Sophia.
Although she only has five grandchildren so many people called and loved her like she was their Teta.
She was loved by everyone and will truly be missed by all who knew her.
The viewing will be from 3:00 to 6:00 pm on Sunday, December 7, 2019 at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes Each Chapel at 1730 E Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823 with Trisagion at 5:30.
Funeral services will be held at 11am on Monday, December 8, 2019 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox at 1701 E Saginaw St, Lansing, MI 48912 with Father Mark Sietsema officiating. A luncheon will follow at the church.
Pallbearers: Danny, Mark and Joey Haddad, Hanna Jildeh, Nabil Kanazeh, Sam Mazer, and Simon Nasr
Memorial contributions may be made to her church or a charity of one’s choice.
It would be impossible to thank everyone for the love, support, care and help they have given Katy, so as her family we simply say -
Thank you
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