LEILA JOSEPH
Aug. 7, 1933-Feb. 6, 2006
Leila Skaf Joseph passed away on Monday, February 6, 2006, in Beirut, Lebanon, with her family present.
She was born to Amin and Marie Skaf in Lebanon on August 7, 1933. Mrs. Joseph grew up in Lebanon and moved to Goldsboro in 1958 after her marriage to Neil Joseph.
Mrs. Joseph was married to the late Neil Joseph of Goldsboro for 28 years until his death in 1986. Mr. Joseph owned Neil Joseph's exclusive, ladies' ready-to-wear shop in Goldsboro for over 50 years and he was Honorary Consul from Lebanon to the United States after having been appointed to such position by President Dwight Eisenhower.
Upon moving to Goldsboro, Mrs. Joseph proceeded to become actively involved in the Goldsboro Community. She was a member and Eucharistic minister at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church. She was also actively involved in the Goldsboro Junior Women's Club and the Goldsboro Arts Center where she was a frequent volunteer and art student.
Leila Joseph was devoted to her Catholic faith, her family and her friends. She will be remembered for her gentle kindness, her warmth and passion for life. In addition, she had an elegant fair for entertaining in her home and she exemplified old world charm which resulted in making guests feel like family.
Mrs. Joseph is survived by her three children, Marie Louise Joseph of Alpharetta, Georgia, Joseph Neil Joseph of Zahle, Lebanon, and John Neil Joseph of Alpharetta, Georgia. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Munir Skaf, Nadia Skaf, Nabiha Skaf and Nassim Skaf and family, all of Lebanon; her sister, Hind Deklef and husband Alan Deklef of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and brother, Jamil Skaf and family who live in Australia.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, February 9, 2006 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zahle, Lebanon, with burial following in Zahle, Lebanon. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Goldsboro, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary Roman Catholic Church or St. Mary Catholic School, 1000 N. Jefferson Ave., Goldsboro, N.C., 27534; or to the American Cancer Society, 930-B Wellness Drive, Greenville, 27834.
(Written & Paid by the Family)
Published in Obituaries on February 7, 2006 2:07 PM