Betty Diab Cury

Betty Cury who, along with her husband Joe, turned Mandarin Supermarket into a popular independent grocery and meat market during the early days in Mandarin, died suddenly Wednesday, February 10, 2016. She was 86. She was born Betty Jean Diab in Detroit on July 7, 1929, the third child to Thomas and Mary (Ara) Diab, immigrants from Fairouzeh and Homs, Syria. Betty had a happy childhood growing up on Lafayette Boulevard in the Elmwood Park District of Detroit, passing through The Bellevue School and Cass Tech High School. Betty then moved with her family to Jacksonville in 1945, and helped run her family's corner grocery store on Talleyrand Avenue. She then met and fell in love with Joseph Cury. They married and were blessed with two children, a son, Charles (Chuck) in 1956 and daughter, Pamela in 1957.

Betty was a lifelong member of the Salaam Club of Florida (Syrian Lebanese American Club), but also a member of the Syrian Women's Charity Society and the Young Matrons Club. She worked tirelessly in the kitchen helping to prepare for the club's quarterly kibbeh takeout luncheons. One of her proudest achievements was in establishing the Salaam Club Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund has bestowed scholarships to college-bound high school seniors for over 20 years. Betty was predeceased by her husband, Joe, in 1977, her son, Chuck, in 1999, her sister-in-law, Clara Diab, and her sisters, Clara Asker and Marlene Moses. She is survived by her daughter, Pamela, brother, Asa Diab, and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

A celebration of the life of Betty will be held on Friday, March 18 at 11:00 a.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 4171 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers and other donations, Betty had asked that all memorials in her memory be sent to the Salaam Club Memorial Scholarship Fund, 8101 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32216. Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.