Shirley FARHAT

6 JUL 1932 - 9 MAR 2023

• BIRTH: 6 JUL 1932, Grand Rapids, Kent, MI
• DEATH: 9 MAR 2023, Buchanan, Berrien County, MI

• MARRIAGE: 7 OCT 1950, Buchanan, Berrien, MI

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[N34641] Shirley Farhat
July 6, 1932 - March 9, 2023

Buchanan formerly Grand Rapids and Kibbutz Sarid, Israel. Shirley Farhat Lemay 90, of Buchanan, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family. Shirley was born on July 6, 1932 as a premature baby of two pounds to the late Abraham William and Rose (Tesseine) Farhat. She met her husband Joseph Eugene Lemay when she was 14 and fell in love at first sight. They married October 7, 1950. Joseph her husband of 51 years preceded her in death in 2001. Together they raised 15 children. She is survived by 13 of them, Marie (Amie) Berkovich, Leah Golan, Eddie (Vicki) Parach, Thomas (Orly) Lemay, Jeanne (Joe) Murdock, Claudia (Solly Solomon) Lemay, Veronique Lemay, Eugene (Ofra) Lemay, Anna (Danny) Gurevich, Francesca (Doron) Parsay, Dimitri Lemay, Darya Lemay, Monroe Lemay. She is also survived by her sister Susie Richardson, sister-in-law Marjorie Farhat and 7 nieces and nephews. She leaves behind 31 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, many step-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild on the way, as well as many cousins and friends. Shirley as a young girl dedicated herself to the art of ballet. She studied under the Russian ballet dancer Edith Mansfield and did so until she got married and begin her very large family. She had 14 children of her own and raised her little brother after the death of her mother. Shirley's entire life was devoted to children, her own, and many others along the way. In the late 1960s Shirley and her husband Eugene became civil rights activists and were very involved in the Black community in Grand Rapids. After losing her eldest son Re'my of 17 years, the family decided to make a move to a Kibbutz in Israel (Sarid), where they continued to raise their children in a bi-lingual communal environment. Even on the kibbutz she chose to work with young adults and teens. Her entire life was dedicated to her family and her husband. For the past 40 years, Shirley has been living in Buchanan. In her retirement, she devoted herself to helping manage her late husband's art legacy and continued to tend to many of her grandchildren. She will be remembered for her kind-hearted approach to diversity and inclusion and for always treating people equally. Shirley only saw good in people and throughout her lifetime managed to bring peace and a place of comfort to those around her. A memorial service will take place at Hoven Funeral Home on Monday, March 13th at 6:00 pm. A private family graveside ceremony will take place at Oakhill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, on Tuesday, March 14th officiated by Rabbi Michael Shadick of Temple Emanuel. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com. Donations in the name of Shirley Lemay can be made to the Buchanan Area Senior Center.

Posted online on March 11, 2023
Published in South Bend Tribune