Mrs Mae Astafan

Mrs. Mae (Bellamah) Astafan, age 94, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2015 at home after a lengthy illness with her loving family by her side. Mae was born in Utica, NY on June 30, 1921, the daughter of the late Shakeeb and Malakie (Nojaim) Bellamah. Following her Mother’s death at a young age her family moved to Lebanon where she received her formal education, and then lived in the town of Jounieh, Lebanon. Mae was a linguist and spoke four languages, English, Arabic, French and Latin. Mae taught privately to the Religious Orders and at the American University in Lebanon, returning to the United States in 1946. On February 9, 1947 in Utica, NY, Mae was joined in marriage to Louis Astafan, Sr. She was a housewife who devoted all her energy and love to her husband and children. Mae was an avid reader and could read a novel in one evening. She loved to do crossword puzzles, and had a multi-lingual vocabulary second to none. Mae was a gentle, soft spoken, compassionate person who spoke ill of no one, a person of pure of heart if there ever was one. At one time Mae had been a member of the St. Mary’s Guild at St. Louis Gonzaga Church, and St. Ann’s Society at St. Mark’s Church in North Utica. Mae is survived at home by her loving husband of 68 years, Louis Sr.; and a loving daughter Joyce Astafan who cared for her daily since her illness. She is also survived by her children, Scander Astafan and his family Sandra and Cassandra all of Schuyler, Marcia Astafan of NY Mills, and Louis Jr. and Diana Astafan of Mohawk; two grandchildren, Danielle and her husband Patrick Wilson of Troy, NY, and Louis Astafan III of Frankfort. Sharing in this loss are her in-laws, Peter and Alice Astafan of Carmichael, CA; special cousins especially acknowledging, Donald and Lucille Nojaim; along with several nieces and nephews. Mae was predeceased by a brother, Edmund Bellamah; her sister and brother-in-law, Yvonne and Raymond Mikall; and in-laws, Joseph and Joan (Zegibe) Astafan. Mae’s family wishes to express appreciation to Chorbishop John D. Faris, Father Elias Khalil, Deacon Paul Salamy, and Subdeacon Peter M. Hobaica for their spiritual care to Mae during her illness. The family would also like to extend special thanks to the Doctors, Nurses, and Staff at St. Luke’s Hospital who tended to her every need, and to Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. A very special Thank You would not be enough to express our appreciation to Tony Burnett of the Visiting Nurse Association for his exceptional care of Mae. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4-7 at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. The Prayer of Incense will be offered at the conclusion of visitation at the funeral home. A Celebration of Mae’s life will be held on Thursday morning at 10:00 at St. Louis Gonzaga Church, 520 Rutger Street in Utica, where her Divine Liturgy of the Faithful Departed will be offered by Chorbishop John D. Faris. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Utica.

Mrs Mae Astafan

June 30, 1921 - August 31, 2015