Noel Arab

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister, Noel (Habib) Arab, 82, who passed away peacefully Saturday, November 30th surrounded by her loving family.

Noel was born in Diman, Lebanon in 1937. She left her home at 19 years of age, with her father, to carve a better life for her and her family in Canada. In a place where she did not speak the language and with no money to her name, she worked tirelessly day in and day out to help bring the rest of her family to Canada. This hard work and resilience is what ultimately taught her daughters to be the strong independent women they are today.

Noel’s faith in God was deep, pure and unwavering. This faith is what carried her through the loss of her first two sons. She prayed daily and lived her life as a devout Christian, setting an example that inspires her family to this day. When God finally blessed her with her son Robert, a void was filled in her life and she cherished this gift until her final day.

Nothing meant more to Noel than her family. From filling her children’s freezers with homecooked meals, to extended trips to Montreal and Toronto to care for her grandchildren, she was always there for her family, never asking anything in return. While always generous with her possessions, her greatest gift was the lessons she taught, particularly to always forgive and make peace.

Despite the countless hours she spent working at The Cove, the store that became their family home, she always found time for her family and friends. Noel loved to cook and shared the fruits of her labour with all those around her. Her apple pies will be particularly missed. She also enjoyed spending time knitting, tending to her house plants and watching her “stories”.

Noel was predeceased by her parents, Anastasia and Boutros. She is survived by her husband, Fouad Arab, her 5 children: Dianne (Joseph) Salah, Roseanne (Anthony) Salah, Denise Arab, Sonia (Michael) Douglas and Robert (Penny) Arab; her 2 siblings: Assaf (Leona) and Marie Habib; her 14 grandchildren: Melissa, Christopher (Stephanie), Ashley, Michelle (Elias), Andrew, Patrick, Matthew, Noelle, Joseph, Noah, Sofia, Talia, Alice and Freddie; her 3 great-grandchildren: Anthony, Nicholas and Ethan; nieces and nephews.

Our family would like to extend our sincere thanks QEII Heart Function Clinic who oversaw her care for the past two years, and to the amazing staff and volunteers at Hospice Halifax who made her final weeks peaceful and comfortable.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at JA Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. Funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 10:30 am at Saint Benedict Church, 45 Radcliffe Drive, Halifax. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice Halifax (hospicehalifax.ca).