Lorice Khoury Obituary

Our beloved mother and cherished grandmother and great grandmother, Lorice Khoury, age 86, of Farmington Hills, Michigan passed away suddenly on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. She was surrounded by all her children and other family members as she passed into eternal life with her Lord. Lorice was born on October 20, 1936 in Jacksonville, Florida, shortly after her parents arrived in the United States from Ramallah, Palestine. She grew up in Jacksonville, Florida; Cleveland, Ohio; and Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Detroit Northwestern High School in 1954 and began working for Detroit Ice and Fuel as a bookkeeper. She married her adoring husband, George in 1961 and was blessed with 4 children that meant everything to her. They began their lives together in Flint, Michigan where George worked for General Motors. They soon moved to Redford Township where they raised their family. She worked and enjoyed her part-time job at Crowley's for over 25 years. They later relocated to Farmington Hills, Michigan in 1990. More than anything, she loved spending time with her children and her grandchildren as well as volunteering, spending time with friends, and most importantly, attending her church, and being an active member of the choir for many years. She also served several years in the St. Mary's Ladies Society (one year as president) and volunteered to help with the church bulletin on a weekly basis for years. She was hospitable beyond measure, and loved, hosting her family for Easter and Christmas every year. Cooking Arabic food and preparing meals and passing on family traditions with her children and grandchildren, and having them all come over to her home to celebrate holidays gave her the most joy. Lorice was a very socially active person, and loved more than anything spending time attending her children's and grandchildren's concerts, performances, sporting events, recitals, musicals, graduations, birthday parties, showers and weddings. She was lovingly called, "Teta", not just by her grandchildren, but by all of their friends, neighborhood kids, and extended family cousins. She had a special love of music and loved attending many local performances and concerts, especially with the Farmington Community Band and Chorus. Summer was a favorite time for her as she loved to attend the many outdoor concerts in the parks as well as Belle Isle in Detroit, which she loved so much. The icing on the cake would be if any of these concerts included Motown music. She was always there to help out after the birth of all her grandchildren, as her children were blessed to have her live so close. She was an active member of the Redford Suburban League for many many years which helped to benefit local children's charities. She truly enjoyed the fellowship that she found with her Lunch Bunch for over 30 years. They would meet monthly to celebrate each other's birthdays. Some highlights for Lorice would be her annual summer visits to Traverse City with her family, one of her favorite places. She thoroughly enjoyed going to the lake with son John at his family cottage. She was also blessed to be able to make a trip to Hawaii, and then in 1992 she traveled to the Ramallah and the Holy Land with her daughter Susie, which was a dream come true for her. While her children were in school, she was a very active volunteer, especially in the high school band boosters club. She became vice president for several years. She was a band camp counselor for 15 years, well beyond her kids graduating. She also traveled to Europe with her son Michael and the jazz band which she enjoyed immensely. She additionally enjoyed a Florida band trip with daughter Jeanne to see her granddaughter march and perform in a parade. She also volunteered at Beechview Elementary School, in Farmington Hills, MI where most of her grandchildren attended and continued to volunteer well beyond them leaving that elementary school for many years. She continued volunteering despite many health issues. In 2009, Lorice received honorable mention for a Gold award for her service. In 2016, she was invited to attend a special breakfast hosted by the superintendent of Farmington Public Schools where she was awarded the Senior Extraordinaire Award of the Year for her 20 years of service in that school. Lorice is survived by her four loving children; daughter, Jeanne (Michael) Butman, son, John (Jean) Khoury; daughter, Susie (Eugene) O'Callaghan and son, Michael Khoury. She's also survived by her adoring 11 grandchildren, Melissa (Scott), Stephanie, Alexis, Andrew, Katie, Jessica (Austin), Jenna, Patrick, Julia, Brendan, and Liam. She is also survived by her 2 great granddaughters, Maddie and Ellie, who she was so thrilled to have in her life. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Brian York, 4 sisters-in-law, nieces Carrie (Don) Slominski and Nicole Salem, nephew Jeff York and many other nieces and nephews throughout the world. Lorice was preceded in death by her wonderful father and mother, Elias and Alexandra Salem, her loving husband George Khoury in 2018, and her beloved siblings: brother Eddie Salem in 1990 (Tania Salem 2018) and her dear and treasured sister Jean York in 2013 whom she missed dearly. Visitation for Lorice will be held Sunday, April 30, 2023 from 5 PM to 8 PM at Basilica of Saint Mary Antiochian, Orthodox Church, 18100 Merriman Rd. , Livonia, MI 48152 with a Trisagion service at 7:30 PM at the church. A funeral in state will occur Monday, May 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM with funeral service at 11 AM at the church. A burial will occur at Parkview memorial cemetery, Livonia, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, contribution in Lorice's memory may be made to Basilica of Saint Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church Building fund, 18200 Merriman Rd. , Livonia, MI 48152, and the City of Farmington Hills; Attention: Senior Division, In memory of Lorice Khoury, Costick Center, 28600 Eleven Mile Rd. , 48336. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www. harryjwillfuneralhome. com for the Khoury family.