Claire Salloum

1935 - 2022

Obituary

At the inspiring age of 86, Claire Salloum joined her husband Bishara in the after-life on February 16, 2022.  Both children of Palestine, they took a leap in 1956 emigrating to the US as family pioneers and then sponsored scores of relatives to the land of safety and opportunity.  In Syracuse, NY, they helped build a kindred community of friends and relatives from the “old country” (including a core group of four couples that joyously traveled the heavy seas on cruises) and resident friends that became family (such as those in Claire’s fun card groups), all of whom they enjoyed and loved.

Her marriage and epic love affair with Bishara, was a modern-day fairy-tale that included travel, running Carvel/A La Mode Café’s, and walking miles and miles (literally and figuratively) together.  And she made one of the best Baklava’s you’ll ever have! 

Claire was selfless, had a subtle wit and gave unconditional love, all of which has been gifted to her surviving children (George Fred, Rose and Sam); grandchildren (Alex, Adam, Kelly, Richard, David, Corey and Julia); great grandchildren (Ada and Lyndon); son-in-law (Dan); daughters-in-law (Sara and Carol); and grandson/daughter-in-law (EJ and Lindsay); as well as her predeceased grandson, John.

Calling hours will be from 4–7 pm on Friday, February 25, and 9:30-10:15 am on Saturday, February 26 at Fairchild & Meech DeWitt Chapel, 3690 Erie Blvd East, Dewitt, NY.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Claire’s honor on Saturday, February 26 at 11 am at Holy Cross Church, 4112 E. Genesee Street, DeWitt, NY.

In lieu of flowers, and as a tribute to Claire’s having to leave Palestine in 1948 as a child, the family requests donations in her memory to be made to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund:

(https://pcrf1.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/pcrf1/campaign.jsp?campaign=14&fundraiser=324053&).

The Palestine Children's Relief Fund was established to identify and provide free medical care and alleviate the suffering of poor, sick and injured children who could not be treated in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  They now are one of the most active and respected nonprofit humanitarian relief organizations in the Middle East, sponsoring not only medical missions but other humanitarian relief projects.