Sami Fouad Al-Mahouli

Beloved husband of the late Sonia (Selwan) Al-Mahouli, he leaves his daughter Mirna Al-Mahouli and her husband, Mario Strasbourg; his daughter Jocelyne (Al-Mahouli) Long and her husband, Ross Long, and his grandson; his son Eli Al-Mahouli and his wife, Samar Abi Nasr; his sister-in-law Gladis Selwan and her husband, Brian Tracey; as well as many close relatives and friends in Ottawa and in Lebanon.

Born and raised in Kfarshima, Lebanon, the son of Fouad and Suad Al-Mahouli, Sami was apprenticed as a glass cutter and window installer in his early years of employment. Later opening his own glass installation and repair company. Sami had a passion to see the world and eventually began employment as a clerk at Sabena airlines, where he worked and enjoyed many happy memories until leaving for Canada in 1970 with his family.

Sami met his late wife Sonia through the friendship of the Al-Mahouli and Selwan families in their small neighbourhood. They were married on August 2, 1964 at St Georges Church in Beirut Lebanon. After many joyful years in Lebanon, Sami, Sonia, and their daughter Mirna, arrived in Canada on Feb 14, 1970. They soon welcomed their second daughter Jocelyne and later their son Eli, into their family. Sami, a dedicated family man, established a home for his family in Ottawa; taking work where he could find it until he eventually returned to his profession as a glass cutter with Preston and Lieff Glass. Sami attended school in the evenings to learn English; eventually buying a Taxi licence and driving with Blue Line Taxi for 15 years. Through passion, hard work, and dedication, a family business named “Le Gouter” was opened in Gatineau, Quebec that operated for 10 years from 1990 until 2000, after which Sami was finally able to enjoy his retirement.

Sami had a great lifelong passion for music and poetry, which he also instilled in his family. He enjoyed Maronite Church hymns, songs from artists such as Fairuz and Oum Kalthoum; as well as poetic essays in such books as The Prophet, written by Kahlil Gibran. An avid philosopher and spiritual man, Sami honed his curiosity and understanding of the human heart and mind over his lifetime, and shared his deep insights with all those who wished to listen. His principles, philosophies and achievements will transpire for generations to come. Sami genuinely loved people and made an impression on those who met him. He never stopped being curious and never stopped wanting to learn.

The family will receive friends at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Road (at Albion Road), on Sunday, March 13, 2022 from 5-9 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at 11am on Monday, March 14, 2022 at St. Charbel Maronite Catholic Church, 245 Donald Street. Private interment will follow.

We wish to thank the wonderful support provided by the staff at the 5 North West Internal Medicine and Palliative Care Units at the Ottawa General Hospital, the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County, and the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). For those wishing, memorial donations may be made to Saint Charbel Parish or the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County.