Dbayeh town bid farewell today its son, Joseph Melhem Shelala (brother of the Presidential Adviser – Director of the Presidency Press Office, Rafic Shelala), in a solemn funeral presided over by the representative of Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi.

The funeral service was held this afternoon in the Church of Ascension – Dbayeh, in the presence of the representative of the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, Minister of National Defense Maurice Selim, the representative of the Speaker of Parliament, Mr.  Nabih Berri, MP Hagop Pakradounian, representative of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Minister of Education, Abbas Al-Halabi, Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar, Minister of Industry, Georges Bouchkian, representative of Saad Hariri, Charbel Zouein, MP Eddy Maalouf, Director General of the Presidency of the Republic, Dr. Antoine Choucair, Brigadier General Elias El Khoury, representative of the Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, Brigadier General P.S.C. Antoine Francis, Commander of the Republican Guard Brigade, Brigadier General Bassam El Helou, on the head of a delegation of brigade officers, current and former deputies and ministers, official, political, military, security and social figures, and the family of the deceased, in addition to people who knew and loved the deceased, who was for many years an active member in the municipality of Dbayeh – Zouk Al Kharab – Awkar and Haret Al Ballana.

The Patriarchal Vicar of the Maronite Archdiocese of Sarba, Archbishop Boulos Rouhana, represented the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, and was assisted by the Maronite Archdiocese of Zahle, Archbishop Joseph Moawad, and the Maronite Archdiocese of Antelias, Archbishop Antoine Bou Najm, and a number of monks, priests and nuns.

Patriarchal Representative:

“The Savior’s birthday is coming, and your family is wrapped in mourning with the death of your dear late Joseph, who is only seventy years old. But for us believers, his death is his birth in heaven, thanks to his life under God’s eyes, his responsible fatherhood, and his kindness.

He was born in an honorable house in Dbayeh, the house of the late Melhem Shelala, and there he was raised on spiritual, moral and social values, with his brother, our dear Mr. Rafic, the presidential advisor and director of the Presidency Press Office who was joined with the late Joseph with the strongest bonds of brotherhood.

The late Joseph received his lessons at the Apostles Institute in Jounieh, and began his activity in the factories of the “INDEVCO” group for the honorable family of Afram.

Then he went to private work in the field of commerce, and after that to self-employment, especially the automobile trade, which he was fascinated with since his childhood, and he became one of its pioneers.

Thus, he secured for himself a dignified life.  He was associated in the sacrament of sacred marriage with a virtuous life partner, Mrs. Fadia Assad Al Tabib, from the National News Agency family.

Together, they lived a happy married life, blessed by God with the fruit of a son and a daughter.

They brought them up in the best way, and secured for them the knowledge necessary to forge their own path in life.

Dear Melhem, works in free trade, and daughter, Eliane, assumes responsibility in the Cemtral Bank.

Late Joseph happy with his children, and was loyal to his lover’s house with sincere affection.

How proud he was of his brother, Mr. Rafic, for gaining the confidence of the Presidents of the Republic, so they entrusted him with the secrets of the state.

He was very positive in his statements and in the media statements made by visitors to the Republican Palace.

We were aware of this personally in our visits to His Excellency the President, whether during the days of current President General Michel Aoun or during the days of former President Emile Lahoud.

The bonds of friendship and appreciation for the dear Rafic and the late Joseph drew me during my service as a priest to the parish of St. George – Ascension in Dbayeh.  Mr. Rafic kept developing it over the years in the episcopal and patriarchal services.

Thanks to the late Joseph’s love for public affairs, his firm cohabitation and his relations with people, and his experience in administrative affairs, he was chosen as a member of the municipal council of Dbayeh, Zouk El Kharab, Awkar and Haret El Ballana.

He contributed to the realization of development projects in these towns.  Finally, he had health symptoms that developed and accumulated until leading to his death, despite all the attempts made by the doctors and the family, but he prepared during this period to meet the face of God, equipped with the sacred secrets, so he closed his eyes in memory of the birth of Christ the Lord on our land, hoping that he would enjoy his happy vision in heaven.

With this hope, and in honor of his burial, and to express to you our fatherly sentiments, we send to you His Eminence, Archbishop Paul Rouhana, our General Patriarchal Vicar for the Sarba region.

May God, with His mercy, accept the soul of your dear deceased in the glory of heaven, and pour the balm of solace on your hearts…”

After that, the brother of the late Mr. Rafic Shelala and the family of the deceased, his widow, Mrs. Fadia Assad the doctor, and their two sons Melhem and Eliane, accepted the condolences of the participants, then the body was laid to rest in the family cemetery.

The family of the late Joseph Shelala continued to accept condolences, as the former President of the Republic, General Michel Suleiman, and a number of current and former ministers and representatives attended.

The family will continue to accept condolences next Sunday, December 26, 2021 in the hall of the Ascension Church – Dbayeh from ten in the morning until six in the evening.

Source: National News Agency