The gift of years was not wasted on Marie Malouf, who died peacefully at the age of 92, in her home in Dallas on April 26, 2020, in the presence of the family who loved her. Writing her own script of relevance, Marie became an icon of aging well, a model of the fullness of life, and a respected source of wisdom for her children, grandchildren, and friends “who would have walked on hot coals” for her. Every decade of her long life provided evidence that those who sow generously, reap generously.
Marie Louise Moossy Malouf was born in Shreveport, LA, on November 11, 1927, to Rose Ferris and John Moossy. When Rose was widowed at a young age, Marie and her three siblings, John, Louis, and Selma, were raised in an apartment over their mother’s grocery store. A testament to their mother is that all four siblings achieved advanced degrees. Marie’s undergraduate degree was in Home Economics and Fashion Design from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, TX, and her master’s degree was in Guidance and Counseling from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX. As part of big Lebanese clans in Shreveport, Marie witnessed how weaker links of the family called forth the power of the stronger links, and how over time everyone stepped up. She would eventually become the matriarch of just such a tight-knit and supportive family, proud of its Lebanese heritage.
Marie married Edward J. Malouf in Dallas on July 28,1949, a decorated WWII combat veteran and a student at SMU, Ed went into the apparel business and the couple settled in the Casa View neighborhood of Dallas. Ed and Marie made a prenuptial agreement: the first to leave took the kids. Since there were nine, the marriage endured. Ed agreed to raise the children Catholic, subsidizing at least one classroom at three Catholic schools: St. Pius X, Bishop Lynch High School, and St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.
As the decades passed, Marie and Ed’s village grew as many of their offspring married, had their own children, and settled in the city. When their names changed to Mimi and PawPaw, they moved from Casa View to North Dallas, neighbors to two sons and their families. One did not have to be kin to belong to the village of Malouf. Marie had the heart space to serve in loco parentis to a tenth child and to fold others into her already sizable family. Once anyone was drawn into this magnetic clan, it was for a lifetime. Amie, Paul, Stephen, Monica, Wayne, Rosanne, Marcellene, Louis, Peter, and Toni witnessed how their parents welcomed diverse people, accepted everyone as they were, and continued to give generously.
Generosity often came in the form of Lebanese dinners around the same dining room table where Marie’s family had gathered in Shreveport. Any occasion prompted the ceremonial rituals of rolling grape leaves and shaping meat pies. Marie hosted meals where kibbee, tabouli, hummus, meat pies, and grape leaves were served to the uninitiated who always sought a second invitation. A surplus of guests resulted in a surplus of food and multiple spirited conversations. In the early years, Marie reigned in the kitchen, whereas in recent years, she reigned over gatherings from a recliner at son Wayne’s house. Still just as influential.
A woman ahead of her time, Marie was able to bridge two realms, one professional and the other in the home. Fashion designer, teacher, counselor, human resource executive, and school administrator, she always dressed the part. In the early years, she designed top selling dresses and fittingly operated a maternity shop. In her later years, she led personnel reforms in education at the Diocese of Dallas. She did not want all her accomplishments listed in her obituary, because that was, as she said, “boring.” Suffice it to say, if she were a painting, she would not have been a still life.
Although circumstances cast Marie in the role of housewife, she thought the term was far too limiting. This multi-dimensional woman recognized all the work love has to do in the world and set about to do her part. As a young woman, she belonged to the Panel of American Women, beginning a lifetime of championing women. Because education was always a top priority, she supported Catholic schools at all levels as well as the Athena Foundation for teachers founded by friend, Dr. Dona Gower. If children were the beneficiaries, such as Jonathan’s Place in Dallas or Empower African Children in Uganda, Marie was a zealous supporter. In George Bernard Shaw’s words, Marie Malouf did not want to live life as a candle, but rather “as a splendid torch that would burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to the next generation.”
Marie Malouf’s real genius was her ability to recognize the unique gifts of everyone. She encouraged everyone to set high standards—often that included law school—and if they needed help reaching their goals, she had a footstool. She was a model for her children and her 26 grandchildren to live lives of service as overflowing in rich experiences as her own. Her nine great grandchildren will be inspired to achieve by the stories the clan will tell.
When someone was ill, Marie sought the intercession of St. Charbel of Lebanon, often sharing his relic with the afflicted family. When cancer caught Marie off guard, her relic was returned. Ed “Paw Paw” Malouf will use his remaining days to brag about his wife’s accomplishments as he has these many years.
Marie practiced the art of re-gifting until everything of value was dispersed in her own lifetime. Instead of flowers, her family hopes you re-gift something of value, donate to a local food bank, or support the Marie and Ed Malouf Family Scholarship Fund at Bishop Lynch High School, 9750 Ferguson Road, Dallas, Texas, 75228, or on the Bishop Lynch website at https://www1.bishoplynch.org/give/malouf
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