Adeeba Raysse Samara

We lost the beautiful matriarch of our family, Adeeba Raysse Samara, on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at the age of 102 years. She died peacefully of natural causes surrounded by her loving family. Adeeba was born in Damascus, Syria on February 20, 1918 to Assef and Bahia Raysse. She married Nabeeh Esber Samara, on Christmas Eve in 1933. Soon after, they came to America and established their home in Oklahoma City for the remainder of their lives. She and Nabeeh celebrated 60 wonderful years of marriage before he passed away in 1994. She worked alongside her husband at Samara's Grocery Store in downtown Oklahoma City for many years. Speaking no English, the customers loved to help young Adeeba learn the language. She taught herself how to read and write in English and became a voracious reader. She was also fluent in Arabic and French. Adeeba became a proud American citizen in 1940. Adeeba was a faithful member of St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church from the time she came to Oklahoma City. She was an active member of the Ladies' Guild and the Ladies' Aid organizations for many years and was a lifetime member of The Order of St. Ignatius. Adeeba and a group of her friends planned the first Dinner and Bake Sale in the old church on 16th and Pennsylvania, which has now become the famous St. Elijah Food Festival. With her passion for cooking, she worked tirelessly in the church kitchen at the many Bake Sales, until just a few years ago. She even appeared on television promoting the delicious food of the Food Festival.Devoting her life to her family, Adeeba became a role model to many. Because of her gracious hospitality and love of entertaining, she spent countless hours in her commercial garage kitchen preparing elaborate meals for her family of 92, friends and clergical dignitaries. Whether it was her authentic Lebanese cuisine or her delicious homemade pizzas, Adeeba's culinary skills were admired by all. Adeeba's other hobbies included knitting and gardening. From her enormous garden, she harvested and canned tomato salsa, pickled cucumbers, fig and apricot preserves, and grape leaves to name a few. She generously shared her bounty with her family and friends. Adeeba was preceded in death by her husband, Nabeeh, her granddaughter Dr. Rhonda Badeen Lunn, great-grandchildren, Kathryn, Michael and Adrienne Lunn, and sons-in-law Dr. Sam Badeen and Jerry Hamra. She is survived by six children: Lillian Badeen, Nadia and Sam Shadid, Dianna and William Kakish, Carolyn Hamra, Dr. Esber Nabeeh Scott and Leslie Samara and Andrea and Dr. Johnny Jones, Jr. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren: Rodney Badeen, Saundra and James Farha, Karla and George Cohlmia, Dr. Paul and Jennifer Shadid, Nick and Terri Kakish, Dr. Randy and Shannon Kakish, Cheryl and Steve Rahill, Dr. David and Lydia Shadid, Johnny Jones Ill, Jeri Lynn and Dr. Mike Joseph, Jeffrey Jones, Laura Hamra, Dr. Shea and Alix Samara, Heather Jones, Ryan and Julia Hamra, Rachel and Nelson Bolen, Elizabeth and Christopher Haggard, and Juliana and Spencer Simon. Also surviving her are 34 great grandchildren and six great-great­ grandchildren.A special thank you to Gertie Graham and Mae Harris who gave Adeeba such loving care in her last years. The Funeral Service will be at St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church on Tuesday, September 29th at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Flowers That Do Not Wither Fund at St Elijah.