Bertha Nassif

Mrs. Bertha (Jweid) Nassif, age 87, of Utica, passed away on Friday, August 23, 2013 at the Presbyterian Home with her loving family by her side.

She was born on January 28, 1926 in Utica, a daughter of the late Niem and Sarah Kakaty Jweid, and was educated in St. Francia deSales of Utica.

Bertha was employed in the family businesses commencing with her parents store Jweid & Sons Market on South St. and later Chanatry's Market, until her retirement.

Bertha was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, whose life centered around her family. She was a devoted daughter to her mother Sarah (Sito) and they shared an everlasting bond. Bertha loved her summers at her SylvanBeach camp, with all of her family, especially Joey, Nikki, Eve and Lucy. Bertha was a very competitive person, she enjoyed card games, free cell, cooking, talking, reading, crosswords, "Wheel of Fortune" and most of all, people, whom she would love to laugh with and play practical jokes on. In her earlier year she was an avid bowler frequenting the Sunset Bowling Alley. A very special woman, Bertha will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

She was a devoted parishioner of St. Basils Melkite Catholic Church.

Surviving are her loving daughter and son-in-law, Anne Marie and John Rich, Jr., of Utica ; her cherished granddaughter, Sara Rich, of Utica; two beloved sisters and one brother-in-law, Janet and William Chanatry, of Utica, and Lorraine Kawam, of Utica; one beloved brother and sister-in-law, George and Karen Jweid, of New Hartford; two sisters-in-law, Ida Jweid and Dolores Jweid; many dear nieces and nephews Ameena and Kevin Copeland, Joanne and Richard Tehan, Michael and Terry Chanatry, Bob Chanatry, Mark and Kristen Chanatry, Goddaughter Mary Ellen and Richard Karrat, Goddaughter Naomi and Larry Durante, Barbara Jweid, John Jweid, Jr., Melissa Jweid, Paul Kawam, Michele and John Rzepka, George Jweid, many great nieces and nephews and one great-great niece; her special friends Julia and Mary Nassimos, Mary Angela Fiorentino, "The Riches", "The Salernos" and her cousin Rev. Edward Kakaty, and her granddaughter Sara's friends whom Bertha loved as her own. Bertha will be welcomed into paradise by her parents Niem and Sarah Jweid, sister Betty and her husband Joe Kawam, brother Louis Jweid, Godson Norman Jweid, brother John Jweid, brother-in-law Pierre Kawam, extended brother John Rich, Sr. and extended granddaughter Jaclyn Salerno-Viti.

There will be no public visitation.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday morning at 11:00 am in St. Basils Melkite Catholic Church, with the Rev. Saba Shofany officiating. Private interment will be in CalvaryCemetery.

The family will receive visitors at the conclusion of mass in church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's ResearchHospital, in memory of Bertha. Envelopes will be available.

Funeral arrangements by The Scala & Roefaro Funeral Home, Inc. 1122 Culver Ave.

Service

Tuesday, August 27 2013