Claire Gedeon
From Lycee Amchit
She was born in 1944 to a family known for its generosity and faith in Beit Shabab. She was raised religious at home first then at the Sisters’ Sacred Hearts in addition to her academic formation. She excelled in her studies; she was smart and known for her good and friendly nature cherished by many people. She had both the beauty of the body and of the soul topped with a deep knowledge in psychology and people’s behaviors in which she specialized in university.
Life smiled upon her and her heart was filled with hope. And when she sought a husband, the one she dreamt of, God put in her way the young George Nasri Gedeon known for his good judgment and generous devotion for social work. He liked the late Marie Claire her honesty, her distinguished presence, courtesy, kindness, cleverness, humbleness and thorough knowledge. She liked this commitment to public affairs especially education which he has shown while running Al-Yunbu’ school in collaboration with Mgr. Gregoir Haddad. So they went on and built a future together and had a family growing normally in the harmony of body and spirit for them and their children. They had three children: Mr. Elie, Mr. Victor, whom she didn’t get the chance to see them married, and Mr. Marwan.
Late Marie Claire knew how to spread warmness, love and joy in her home in addition to religious spirituality, patience and gentleness especially during the Lebanese War when the family had to move to Jbeil. She went back to running her household with virtue, faithfulness and love fulfilling her duties as a mother, the duties assigned to her by God, with patience and goodness. Thus, she was a model for her children who remained loyal and committed to the religious and social principles she taught them and who were always grateful to her for that.
In Jbeil, she was committed to Saint Rita’s Sisterhood, reuniting its parish and promoting its solidarity. Having special God-given educational skills, she founded with her husband Lycee Amchit. She worked hard to promote and launch it in a wise and balanced way, till it reached now the high school level.
Education wasn’t a job; it was a spiritual message for which she combined the mother’s love, scholar’s knowledge, principal’s wisdom and coordinator’s courtesy. She was a mother to all her students treating them with tenderness and kindness, patiently waiting for their results and deeply caring for those with special needs.
Late Marie Claire’s small and big family was a way to reach moral perfection to which God had called her. So she was a great example for her children, a strong social support for her husband by relieving him from his house and upbringing concerns. She provided him with a calm atmosphere aspired by every human being. And with her good relations and hard work, she allowed him to fulfill his work’s responsibilities.
She worked hard for people and gave them a lot of herself. She worked to solve people’s issues and disputes with her wisdom and courtesy so that everybody lived in peace around her. She even took the initiative to assist anybody who asked for her help. Thus, people and relatives loved and appreciated her, were grateful to her, took her example and respected her.
This mother we say goodbye to worked patiently for 66 years. She suffered for four months spent patiently, praying everyday while in hospital. She left us praying and saying, “Here, take my body. I gave everything I had till the last breath for your love. I have nothing else to give you. Take it; bury it with faith because I’m leaving this world”.
