Malak El-Issa Jubran

Jubran, Malak El-Issa - age 78, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away gracefully and peacefully on Friday, March 25th, at her home surrounded by many of her loved ones. Her strong will and faith allowed her to bear her illnesses with dignity and courage. She is now in God's hands, meeting her late beloved husband Jubran, and together they are smiling down on all of us. Malak (Angel in Arabic) was born to a prominent family in Jaffa, Palestine, on November 15, 1932. Her father owned the largest daily newspaper in Palestine. Her family also owned and operated business interests in land and agriculture, including the exporting of famous Jaffa Oranges. She was the youngest child of four. She was certainly the spoiled child and enjoyed every minute of it. Due to unrest in Palestine at the time, the family moved to Lebanon, where Teta (it means Grandmother in Arabic and was a term of affection almost everyone used with her) attended The College of St.Joseph De Bezancon, graduating in liberal arts. She was fluent in French, English and, of course, her native Arabic. Her art played a huge role in her life, and she loved life. She loved music and enjoyed dancing. In 1950, she became engaged to a great man, Jubran Jubran. The late Jubran had promised to continue spoiling her, and he certainly delivered. They married 3 years later and together had three children, Abdallah, Raja, and Nadim. Before Jubran’s untimely passing in 1977, he made sure the three children understood the role they must play in maintaining the tradition of spoiling her. After the 1967 Palestinian Diaspora, Malak co-founded the “Lebanese Society for the Resurgence of Palestinian Camps,” where she helped revive and preserve the Cross Stitch Art of Palestine to help refugees have a sense of community, preserve their heritage, and earn a living thru their art. In 1978, Malak moved to Knoxville, leaving behind a more relaxed life and easier living standards for one reason and one reason only: to be with her children, who were attending The University of Tennessee. The hospitable people of East Tennessee made her feel comfortable and welcomed her, and, in 1984, she became a US citizen, making Knoxville her permanent beloved home. While in Knoxville, her total focus was on her family, making sure her three men remembered all the family traditions and the teachings of their father. She truly kept his memory alive in all of them. She made them strong and made them accountable. She loved them dearly but never shied away from giving them the right dose of “hard time” if they ever tried not to live up to their father’s standards or attempted to compromise on any promise they made… especially the promise of spoiling her. She lived her life gracefully. She never shied away from bucking trends but always did so with understated elegance and appropriate style. She never met a stranger, she loved to entertain family and friends, and she certainly never hesitated to give a straight forward and honest opinion about anything or anyone. She insisted that the family always be together as one and fixed her famous meals every Sunday for all to enjoy. She loved her sons, but also truly loved her daughters-in-law, treating them as though they were her own daughters. They in turn gave her much love, admiration, and respect. She also cared for and loved all the extended family and friends, especially Shirley Serena, who Malak lovingly called her best friend. Shirley also learned the art of spoiling her to the maximum. But nothing gave Malak greater joy in life more than her two grandchildren, Omar and Nadim. She loved them unconditionally. Her parting words the day she passed was reserved for them when she told them she loved them and that they are her life. Her loving spirit will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and all those who came to know her. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, by her beloved husband Jubran Jubran of Beirut, Lebanon, and by her eldest Brother Raja El-Issa of Amman, Jordan. Survivors include her brother Dr. Saad El-Issa and wife Mimi of Gunny, Illinois; her sister Leila Tadrous of Cairo, Egypt; and her loving sons Abdallah Jubran and wife Doris of Atlanta, Georgia; Raja Jubran and wife Michelle of Knoxville, Tennessee; Dr. Nadim Jubran and Sheri Maxwell of Knoxville, Tennessee; her devoted grandchildren Omar and Nadim of Knoxville, Tennessee; and a large and loving extended family in Knoxville, in other parts of the US, and in Europe and the Middle East. Pallbearers for Malak are Omar J. Jubran, Nadim R. Jubran, Robert Jubran, Salam Habibi, Chuck Ajlouny, David Fawal, John Kuchinic, Roger Harb, Johnny Serena, Badih Saliba, and Marwan Zaouk. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Perry Rousis and Dr. Casey Page. The family wishes to express their great appreciation to the wonderful, caring, and dedicated doctors and nurses she has had, with special cheers to Dr. Myrwood Besozzi, Dr. Wahid Hanna, Dr. Paul Hatcher, and Dr. Monica Crane, who always attended to her every medical need. And a toast to special family friends, Dr. Perry Roussis and Dr. Casey Page, who made sure she was spoiled to the last minute. Receiving of friends will be at Mann Heritage Chapel, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, on Monday, March 28th, from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m., followed by a Special Blessing given by Dr. Doug Banister of All Souls Church, and then the traditional Trisagion prayer service with Rev. Father John Kostas officiating. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 29th, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Kingston Pike, at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at Highland Memorial Gardens, 5313 Kingston Pike. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the U.T. Cancer Institute, 1520 Cherokee Trail, Suite 110, Knoxville, TN 37920; Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, 2743 Wimpole Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37914; or the charity of your choice. Arrangements made by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com

Tributes

Malak El-Issa Jubran

November 15, 1932 - March 25, 2011