Marie Gabriel Jarra

Marie G. Jarra, age 77, joined her Lord and Savior on Thursday, August 1, 2024.  She was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon and later moved to Michigan with her husband in 1968.  Together, they sponsored and hosted all of her siblings and their families to live in Detroit until they were rooted in their own homes.  She was the family “emmissary” on a mission to welcome her Lebanese family to the new world of the United States.  She orchestrated family events, incorporating Lebanese traditions into a new way of life in America.   Marie's desire to experience the beauty of nature led her on many outdoor adventures where she developed a fond admiration of the world's beauty and a love of sunsets.  Taking after her parent's love of flowers, she found much happiness and joy through growing her own gardens, dubbing her the "Queen of Flowers".   She shared her love of flowers with many others and passed along the gift of gardening to her son and son-in-law.  Marie embraced music from all ethnicities and would frequently be found singing and dancing.  Her smile and love of life was contagious, drawing in people whether they knew her or not.  She was a willing confidant to those in need of sharing their own challenges in life with her.  She will be greatly missed by many, forever in our hearts and will smile upon us from the sunsets that she once admired. 

She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Michael; brother, Salim Bayram; sister, Yola Chidiac; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law; Sr. Helene, Gabriel, Laure.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Angela and Rich Wunsch, Eli and Brenda Jarra; grandchildren: Isaiah Wunsch, Rylee Jarra, Kayla Jarra; sisters: Lody (Ghassan) Badreshany, Denise Bayram; sisters-in-law, Odette Karra, Marie Damon; many nieces and nephews. 

Marie's steadfast faith in God provided a compass for her life.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 9, 2024, at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 9408 Wilson Avenue SW, Byron Center, with Msgr.  Bill Duncan presiding.  Burial will be held at St. Sebastian Cemetery.  Relatives and friends may meet the family for visitation on Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 5-8 p.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 2371 Riley St., Hudsonville. A visitation will also be held at the church prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, and because of her love of flowers, the family is choosing to memorialize her at the Frederick Meijer Gardens at a later date (donations may be made directly to the family).