Rose Khoury

Rose Boulas Khoury, age 88, of Tuscaloosa, died April 20, 2011, at DCH Regional Medical Center. Funeral mass will be 11 a.m. today at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park with Sunset Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents, Namthala and Almaza Boulas; her sisters, Milady Boulas and Alice Hallal; and her beloved husband, S. Peter Khoury.

She is survived by her children, Peter Khoury and Milady Murphy; and by her son-in-law, Michael.

Rose Khoury was born April 6, 1923, in Fall River, Mass. where she lived most of her long and eventful life. After a brief stint in modeling and theatre in New York City, for many years Rose owned a boutique dress shop that was a hub of activity in the old business district of Fall River. Always very active in the work of her church and her community, Rose was ahead of her time in her dedication to physical fitness, an abiding commitment that she instilled in her children, Peter and Milady.

After the death of her husband in 1986, she devoted her considerable energies to raising funds for a college scholarship that bears her name and that has advanced the education of many Fall River area high school students.

Upon moving to Tuscaloosa in 2004 to live with her family, Rose quickly came to love her new town and its people, developing a fondness for azaleas and especially pork barbeque. Brimming with an extraordinary enthusiasm for life, Rose was equal parts fun and mischief, wise counsel and empathy. Her family and friends will miss Rose deeply, and even her casual acquaintances are unlikely to soon forget her effervescence.

Rose's family is extremely grateful for the care and kindness extended to her during her long illness by many people, especially Lois Hartley, Lois Fields, Li Hua, Dr. John Warren, Dr. Ross Vaughn, Dr. Phillip Bobo, Dr. John Mantle, Dr. Wesley Spruill, and the doctors, nurses, and staff at DCH and Amedisys Home Health and Hospice. The family gives special thanks to Dr. Tooson.

Pallbearers will be Kip Tyner, Phillip Coleman, Dr. Loreza Royal, Dr. James Binden, Dr. William Dressler, and Roger Green.